Nice hosts thrilling Tour de France Femmes finale amid controversy and compelling racing

By Liam Tremblay — 10 August 2026 — 3 min read

The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift concluded in Nice with Demi Vollering securing her second overall victory. The final stage was marked by high drama, including a dispute between Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma, which later saw a reconciliation between the two riders.

Vollering’s win followed an attacking performance, further boosting the profile of the sport. Her team, FDJ United-Suez, delivered a gutsy performance throughout the event. Niewiadoma’s public criticism of Vollering’s 20-year-old teammate, Célia Gery, on Saturday, fuelled controversy leading into the final stage but did not diminish the scale of Niewiadoma’s own achievements.

Drama and Reconciliation on the Road

Vollering expressed anger over the negative messages Gery received following the incident. She stated that young people should be protected from such actions and that Gery had a difficult time. Vollering and Niewiadoma later had a conversation on their bikes during the early kilometres of Sunday’s stage to address the situation. Vollering mentioned her disappointment with how emotions were expressed but confirmed that the talk resolved the issue, stating, “It was all good in the end.”

Niewiadoma, who finished in the Tour‘s top three for the fifth time and won Friday’s stage on Mont Ventoux, echoed the conciliatory tone. She emphasized their long-standing competition and a desire to avoid conflict. The controversy that arose from the incident extended beyond the cycling community, reaching social media platforms.

The final stage also saw misfortune for Marlen Reusser, who began the stage in third place. The Swiss rider crashed on the second descent of Col d’Èze, losing her chance at a podium finish, though she did complete the stage.

Women’s Race Offers Suspense

The Tour de France Femmes has been described as offering compelling racing, particularly when compared to the men’s Tour de France, which, in the era of Tadej Pogacar, has seen discussions often focus on second place due to his dominance. The director of the Tour de France Femmes, Marion Rousse, highlighted that women’s cycling currently generates more suspense than men’s cycling because of Pogacar’s consistent high-level performance.

Rousse noted the refreshing nature of the women’s race, which maintains its appeal even as it experiences rapid growth. Pogacar, a supporter of the women’s peloton, was seen cheering on his partner, Urska Zigart, during Friday’s stage to Mont Ventoux and was also present in Nice over the weekend. Rousse believes the women’s race has retained a certain innocence, which she attributes to the relatively newer experience of widespread media coverage and public attention for women’s cycling.

The perception of women’s cycling has shifted, with initial doubts about the capabilities of the women’s peloton being replaced by questions about extending the race and increasing live television coverage. Rousse stated that no one now questions if the women are skilled enough, as they have demonstrated their championship qualities on the road.

Looking Ahead

Vollering’s achievements this season include winning the Giro d’Italia Women, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, the Tour of Flanders, and Flèche Wallonne. Her performances are considered comparable to, and possibly surpassing, those of Pogacar.

The men’s Tour saw its competitive aspect largely settled after stage six, when Pogacar secured a win over the Col du Tourmalet. Pogacar is set to race in the Vuelta a España, which begins on August 22 in Monaco. He will also participate in next year’s Grand Départ in Edinburgh on July 2.

The future of Jonas Vingegaard, who crashed out of the Tour with a broken collarbone, remains uncertain. His fellow Dane, Mattias Skjelmose, shared that Vingegaard has expressed feeling disheartened by Pogacar’s consistent domination. Vingegaard’s crash occurred after he received a visit from International Testing Agency (ITA) drug testers. The debate surrounding the appropriateness of such anti-doping measures and their impact on riders was a significant topic during the remainder of the Tour.

The Tour de France Femmes will hold its Grand Départ in Leeds on July 30 next year, with subsequent stage finishes planned for Manchester, Sheffield, and London.

Source: theguardian.com