Demi Vollering Triumphs Amid Controversy in Tour de France Femmes

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Tour de France Femmes: Triumph with a Hint of Controversy

Stand: 08.08.2026 • 22:48 Uhr

Demi Vollering has finally achieved what she aimed for on Mont Ventoux: claiming the yellow jersey. However, this victory comes amid accusations from her fiercest rival, Kasia Niewiadoma.

The atmosphere among fans is typically jubilant, as they gather early in the morning, cheering and celebrating anyone associated with the Tour de France Femmes. Yet, the mood shifts dramatically in the Mixed Zone, particularly after the events of Mont Ventoux, where the tension is palpable.

Demi Vollering and Marlen Reusser responded to journalists' inquiries with thin smiles. Understandably so, as they had both faced disappointment the day before—Reusser losing the yellow jersey and Vollering failing to seize it. The only one celebrating was Niewiadoma, the then overall leader.

A Turn of Events for Vollering

In sports, fortunes can change overnight, as demonstrated by the eighth and penultimate stage in Nice. Vollering, who was the previous day's loser, emerged victorious, while Niewiadoma was left sitting on the ground, visibly upset and needing comfort from a teammate. Vollering now holds an eight-second lead over her rival.

Reflecting on her previous disappointment at Mont Ventoux, Vollering stated in a post-race interview, "In a stage race, you live day by day. You can feel disappointed at night, but the next morning you have to put on a new face and get back to it." She humorously noted a sense of déjà vu that morning, envisioning herself taking the yellow jersey.

Earlier in the year, Vollering had scouted the Nice course, having faced significant struggles during the winter. "I had never mentioned this before, but I started training here in Nice for the first time after not training at all in December. I was just so grateful to be back on the bike," she shared.

From Flower Seller to Champion

Vollering had hoped to don the yellow jersey on Mont Ventoux, a location of personal significance where she first recognized her cycling talent nearly a decade ago. Three years later, in 2019, she signed her first professional contract, leaving behind her job as a flower seller. Since then, her career trajectory has been remarkable, highlighted by her victory at the prestigious Liège-Bastogne-Liège in 2021 and her first overall win at the Tour de France Femmes two years later.

Vollering has achieved a rare feat, winning overall at all three Grand Tours. Just last June, she secured victory at the Giro d’Italia, narrowly holding off Antonia Niedermaier thanks to her team, FDJ United-Suez.

Seeking Redemption at the Tour

Now, Vollering is poised to claim her second overall victory at the Tour after her initial win in 2023. She still feels the sting of past misfortunes, having finished second to Pauline Ferrand-Prevot last year and narrowly losing the Tour in 2024 by just four seconds to Niewiadoma.

"Tomorrow, I will give everything I have because I don’t want to regret anything. That’s the worst feeling I’ve ever had in my life. I don’t want to feel that again; I want to keep this yellow feeling," she expressed passionately.

Niewiadoma’s Serious Accusations

Kasia Niewiadoma enjoyed her time in the lead for a day, but post-race, she was visibly furious when approached for comments. She accused Célia Gery, a teammate of Vollering, of forcing her into the barriers during an attack just five kilometers from the finish. When questioned about the incident after the race, Niewiadoma remarked, "If they want to compete, they should do it fairly and not try to push me against the barriers, which I find childish. Honestly, I’ve lost all respect for them."

Vollering Defends Gery

In a press conference, Vollering appeared unaware of any incident involving Niewiadoma. "I only saw what was in front of me. Célia gave me such a strong lead-out. I’m sure she didn’t see Kasia when she took off. I believe these things just happen in cycling sometimes," Vollering countered.

As the stage in Nice approaches, featuring a challenging city circuit including the notorious Col d’Eze, the stage is set for an intense finale. Niewiadoma is expected to be particularly motivated at the starting line.