Demi Vollering won the Tour de France Femmes for the second time on Sunday, attacking on the Col d'Èze and riding solo into Nice to take the final stage and seal the overall title.
The 29-year-old Dutch rider (FDJ United-SUEZ) started the ninth and final stage just eight seconds ahead of Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) after moving into yellow with her stage-eight victory in Sisteron. On a hilly circuit that climbed the Col d'Èze four times, Canyon-SRAM tried to blow the race apart on the second lap when Zoe Backstedt drove the pace from the bottom to the top of the climb, cutting the front group to 11 riders and dropping Marlen Reusser (Movistar), third overall overnight, who then crashed on the descent.
Vollering absorbed the pressure, covered every attack from Niewiadoma-Phinney and delivered the decisive blow on the final gradients of the climb. She crested the Col d'Èze alone and powered to the line on the Nice seafront, finishing one minute and four seconds ahead of Paula Blasi Cairol and a fading Niewiadoma-Phinney. She raised her bike above her head as she crossed the line.
The final general classification showed Vollering on 30:54:51, with Niewiadoma-Phinney 1:18 back in second and Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini (UAE Team L'IMAD) third at 4:19 after moving up when Reusser slipped to 14th at nearly 26 minutes. Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon-SRAM) completed the top four at 5:10.
"It's not only the dream of winning the Tour de France," Vollering said as the Dutch anthem played. "It's also the dream of living this life, of working hard along with passionate people. It all starts with dreaming."
The victory adds to Vollering's 2023 title; in 2024 she had been beaten to the crown by Niewiadoma-Phinney. This time the Dutchwoman never looked back once she took yellow in the Alps, and her solo ride on the Côte d'Azur gave her a second Tour de France Femmes triumph.
Sources
- Cyclingnews — Tour de France Femmes: Demi Vollering drops Niewiadoma-Phinney to seal overall with solo final stage victory in Nice: https://www.cyclingnews.com/pro-cycling/womens-cycling/tour-de-france-femmes-demi-vollering-drops-niewiadoma-phinney-to-seal-overall-with-solo-final-stage-victory-in-nice/
- ABC News — Demi Vollering wins Tour de France Femmes with victory on final stage: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-10/demi-vollering-wins-tour-de-france-femmes/107014760
