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Demi Vollering wins Tour de France Femmes / Photo: NICOLAS TUCAT - AFP
Demi Vollering wins Tour de France Femmes
Dutch rider Demi Vollering won the Tour de France Femmes on Sunday by winning the hilly final stage to extend her lead on nearest rival Kasia Niewiadoma, who finished second overall.
The 29-year-old Vollering also won the 2023 title and claimed her second one by timing the nine-day slog to perfection in winning the final two stages, which both ended in Nice.
Vollering claimed the overall lead on Saturday, attacking late on a small hill and edging into an eight-second overall lead on Niewiadoma.
A furious Niewiadoma, however, complained she had been blocked by a teammate of Vollering at a crucial moment, but no action was taken.
The tense final stage was contested over four climbs of the Col d'Eze just outside Nice, where Vollering waited until the fourth ascent to pounce.
Attacking near the summit, she took a 20sec lead and thundered down towards Nice never looking back.
Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini came third overall after Swiss rider Marlen Reusser fell on a descent and lost a two-minute cushion on the podium.
Dutch sprinter Lorena Wiebes won the green sprint points jersey mainly thanks to her victories on the two opening stages.
Also from the Netherlands Puck Pieterse secured the polka dot climb points jersey ahead of the final stage.
D.Mayer--BlnAP
