Vollering wins Tour de France Femmes as Niewiadoma-Phinney takes second after final-stage duel in Nice

Final stage showdown

Demi Vollering claimed her second career Tour de France Femmes title on Sunday, 9 August, winning the final stage in Nice and the general classification in a single sweep. The Dutch rider crossed the line with a margin of 1 minute 18 seconds over Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney, who finished second overall. The 99-kilometre final stage around Nice featured four ascents of the Col d'Eze, with the last climb the most demanding section of the entire route.

Niewiadoma-Phinney had started the day eight seconds behind Vollering in the general classification, needing to gain at least nine seconds due to a worse time-trial tiebreaker to reclaim the yellow jersey she had held after winning Friday's stage with a 15-second cushion. Vollering had taken the lead on Saturday by winning the penultimate stage and opening an eight-second gap.

How the stage unfolded

The decisive move came 19 kilometres from the finish, when the two favourites, who had marked each other throughout the stage, began their final confrontation. Vollering broke away 16 kilometres from the line, quickly building a 30-second advantage. She gained further time on the descents, and by five kilometres from the finish she led by over a minute. Niewiadoma-Phinney crossed the line in a five-rider group, taking third on the stage and second overall.

Canyon//SRAM's Zoe Backstedt played a pivotal role, reducing the favourites' group to just 12 riders on the second climb of Col d'Eze. Niewiadoma-Phinney praised her teammate, calling her the team's climber and describing the squad's belief as a beautiful feeling. Polish sprinter Malwina Mul, making her Tour debut, won an intermediate sprint ahead of Lorena Wiebes before being caught. Dominika Włodarczyk, eighth in the general classification, attempted an early attack but was reeled in.

Controversy and reconciliation

The final stage followed a tense exchange on Eurosport after Saturday's penultimate stage. Niewiadoma-Phinney had accused Celia Gery of Vollering's FDJ United-SUEZ team of deliberately blocking her against barriers at the start of a climb, forcing her to stop pedalling. Vollering defended her teammate and referenced the 2024 Tour, when Niewiadoma-Phinney won by four seconds after Vollering had crashed and lay on the ground.

I have a lot of respect for Kasia, I was a bit disappointed when I saw her interview. She really attacked my teammates after the stage and it wasn't fair to do it in the heat of emotions. I haven't forgotten what she did two years ago when I was lying on the ground. If she talks about fair play, I don't think she's the person who can talk about it.

Vollering also said she wanted to settle the race on the road and make clear the victory was earned, not a consequence of Saturday's incident. After Sunday's finish, the two riders embraced at the line, smiling and acknowledging their multi-day battle.

Looking ahead

Niewiadoma-Phinney, 31, has now stood on the podium in all five editions of the Tour de France Femmes: third in 2022, 2023, and 2025, winner in 2024, and second in 2026. She and Vollering are the only riders to have reached the podium in every edition.

Honestly, Demi motivates me to be even stronger, to raise my level from race to race, from year to year.

The Polish rider said she planned to contact her coach immediately to analyse what could be improved. Vollering's overall victory earned €50,000 in prize money, while Niewiadoma-Phinney received €25,000 for second place. Both amounts go to their teams and are split among riders and staff. Vollering's annual salary is just under €1 million, while Niewiadoma-Phinney's is approximately €600,000.