'I wanted to make it clear that we didn't win because of an incident' - Vollering seals second Tour Femmes title with Nice solo

Vollering had taken back the yellow jersey on Saturday's stage 8 to Nice, dropping Niewiadoma-Phinney with 6km to go on the final climb before soloing to the stage win. Sunday's Nice-Nice stage 9, featuring multiple ascents of the Col d'Èze, was the final challenge to her lead. Vollering removed any lingering doubt with a second solo victory in as many days.

"I never won in a yellow jersey before. I thought about my team. I thought about Celia, who had a really, really rough night," said Vollering in her post-race interview.

The Dutchwoman also thanked equipment sponsor Specialized for the new bike she had raced throughout the Tour.

"I thought about all the work I did before this. I thought about all the people who are standing behind me, working together with Specialized on the new bike. They made this bike to do this kind of things, to be the fastest downhill, to be the fastest uphill. It's incredible."

For Vollering, the win was about more than the yellow jersey. It was the culmination of the wider environment she and FDJ United-Suez had built since her move to the team last winter.

"It's not only the dream to win in yellow here, to win a second Tour de France, but it's the dream to live this life, to work hard together with people with a lot of passion. I think that's the whole dream."

The battle with Niewiadoma-Phinney had defined the closing week. Vollering had been chased hard by the Pole through the mountains before Saturday's tactical breakthrough on the Col d'Èze.

"I just told her that it was fine for me, as long as I was coming back. And then, just to try to make her a little bit more work. And then I was like, I have to try to attack and go alone."

Vollering framed Sunday's final-stage attack as a deliberate statement. She wanted to remove any suggestion that Saturday's yellow jersey change had been the result of a moment of misfortune for Niewiadoma-Phinney.

"I wanted to make it clear that we didn't win because of an incident yesterday. That's not what I believe. I wanted to make it clear that we as a team deserve to win a beautiful Tour de France, with humble and with pride."

Niewiadoma-Phinney's stage 7 solo attack on Mont Ventoux 48 hours earlier had temporarily reshaped the GC picture. In hindsight, Vollering was measured about that setback.

"No, I didn't have doubts on my own level. I think it was just I gambled a bit too much. And that's sport. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes you make the right decisions, sometimes you make mistakes. It's just the easiest when you go attack, and that's what Kasia did on the Mont Ventoux. She won a beautiful stage there, and that's what I did today."

Vollering also won the 2026 Giro d'Italia Women in June, completing the Grand Tour hat-trick alongside the Vuelta a España Femenina. She is not finished yet and is already aiming for more.

"Yes, I still have a lot of dreams. On and off the bike."