{"id":2086939,"date":"2026-08-10T07:00:53","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:00:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2086939"},"modified":"2026-08-10T07:00:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T04:00:53","slug":"you-never-should-think-youre-there-demi-vollering-at-her-best-and-still-improving-with-second-tour-de-france-femmes-victory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2086939","title":{"rendered":"&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-2560-80.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 1 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5aWec9hgrByLNZHwpLBHs-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/5aWec9hgrByLNZHwpLBHs-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-4 h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">1<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;I lost all respect for them\u2019 \u2013 Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney accuses Demi Vollering&#8217;s teammate C\u00e9lia Gery of lack of &#8216;fair play&#8217; after Tour de France Femmes stage 8\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none upnext-article-divider\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 2 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QD3q7s5hviXqumft5i8buM-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/QD3q7s5hviXqumft5i8buM-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">2<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    As it happened: Mont Ventoux inspires a historic solo win and shakes-up the 2026 Tour de France Femmes GC battle\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"m-0 box-border flex flex-row items-center pr-2.5 gap-[15px] w-[278px] h-20 flex-none\" role=\"listitem\" aria-label=\"Recommended article 3 of 3\">\n<div class=\"relative flex-none w-20 h-20\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nG4QiGu6dr4graSdQ2LACd-160-80.jpg.webp 160w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nG4QiGu6dr4graSdQ2LACd-80-80.jpg.webp 80w\" sizes=\"80px\" \/><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex items-center justify-center absolute w-[18px] h-6 left-0 top-0 bg-white\/90 flex-none z-[1]\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><span class=\"font-normal text-base leading-[17px] tracking-[1.3px] uppercase text-black flex-none\">3<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex flex-col items-center justify-center gap-1.5 w-[173px] h-20 flex-none\">\n<p class=\"font-article-heading font-medium text-base leading-[21px] text-gray-800 w-[173px] line-clamp-3 group-hover:underline\">\n                                    &#8216;Really stupid from both of us&#8217; \u2013 Marlen Reusser regrets mark-out tactics with Demi Vollering as yellow jersey sails away at Tour de France Femmes\n                                <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nWomen&#8217;s Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour de France Femmes\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nDani Ostanek <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T07:00:53Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n10 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Yellow jersey winner and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney held clear-the-air talks over stage 8 controversy before Vollering&#8217;s Col d&#8217;Eze attack sealed yellow jersey<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">A tearful Demi Vollering after her solo ride to the line in Nice confirmed her second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-1b82c626-947f-11f1-903e-55037af44b81\">Following the &#8216;block-gate&#8217; controversy of stage 8 at the Tour de France Femmes, Demi Vollering removed all doubt about the result in the finale on the Col d&#8217;Eze on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney had accused FDJ United-SUEZ of blocking her before the final climb on Saturday, and with just eight seconds in it at the top of the standings afterwards, there was room to question whether the apparent move influenced the Tour&#8217;s overall outcome.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-1b82c626-947f-11f1-903e-55037af44b81-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Not so on Sunday evening, after Vollering dropped the Pole at the top of the Eze, soloing 16.2km to the line to seal the yellow jersey by 1:18. Her overall victory was decisive, beyond question, and, following a mid-stage conversation, the air had been cleared.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I explained again that we really didn&#8217;t want to block her on purpose, and then she accepted it, and she was like, &#8216;OK, I understand.&#8217; It was all good in the end. I think it was good that we had a talk together,&#8221; Vollering explained in the post-race press conference, before telling of how her teammate, C\u00e9lia Gery, the 20-year-old at the centre of the storm, had been affected by the row.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She got a lot of nasty messages, which makes me always very angry, especially because she&#8217;s such a young girl still. We should always protect young people from these kinds of stupid actions from people who don&#8217;t think and just send a message,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Today was just a new day&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering brushes aside Mont Ventoux disappointment to &#8216;live the dream&#8217; back in Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Pressure is a privilege&#8217; \u2013 Calm, mature Demi Vollering taking Tour de France Femmes favourite status in her stride as search to reclaim yellow continues<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I had to try&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering&#8217;s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s very sad to think that you go to somebody&#8217;s profile and send them death-threatening messages. I really cannot understand this, but it makes me very angry. She had a really rough time, so of course today was also motivation for us to show that we can do it without all the commotion about what happened yesterday.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think I just wanted to have a chat with Kasia about this, also because I was just a bit disappointed that she let all the emotions out like that about a rider and saying their name. You should always try to avoid these kinds of things. First of all, we are riders, and then next to it, we are human beings \u2013 we are real people. If you say somebody&#8217;s name or you really attack somebody like this, it really hurts somebody and can really do bad things to people.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We all know racing is crazy, and we try our best to make it as safe as possible, but we are under so much pressure, and sometimes things just happen and go how they go in a race. So I think we should realise that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"i-believe-you-always-need-to-see-life-in-the-bigger-picture-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8216;I believe you always need to see life in the bigger picture&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-844ced20-9485-11f1-af18-45858d65c996\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Vollering and her FDJ United-SUEZ teammates celebrate winning the yellow jersey on the final podium <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8e934230-9484-11f1-acef-173b32ed7048\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">With the controversy consigned to history and racing taking centre stage on Sunday, Vollering made a statement with her winning attack over the final ascent of the Eze, run up a steeper road than the previous three on the stage.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The win, plus the final GC, were her 13th and 14th of the season and stand alongside titles at the Tour of Flanders, Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge, and the Giro d&#8217;Italia in a glittering 2026 campaign that looks like the high point of her career to date.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I felt stronger than in any other editions&#8217; \u2013 Why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney can celebrate second at the Tour de France Femmes as much as her 2024 win<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I think this whole Tour is going to be like this&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Demi Vollering&#8217;s less intense Tour de France Femmes preparation already paying dividends with opening stage time gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I really should have closed the gap straight away&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering harbours Mont Ventoux regrets as Niewiadoma-Phinney soars into Tour de France Femmes lead<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There are still title defences at the World Championships in Montr\u00e9al and the European Championships in Ljubljana to consider, too. Does she feel like this is the best Demi Vollering we&#8217;ve seen to date? And, at the age of 29, is she still improving as a rider?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I feel like I&#8217;m growing as a person as well. Over the years, you learn so much, and you keep on learning. You take that all with you in your backpack, and sometimes you&#8217;re struggling because you think you figured it out, but then at the same time, the moment you start to feel like that, you lose all of it,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;That&#8217;s life. You need to keep evolving, you need to keep working hard, you need to keep working on every detail. I think you never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8217;, because you will never get there. Life is a whole process, and it goes with ups and downs. You need to try to do everything as good as possible, but at the same time, there is no end goal until we&#8217;re not on this world anymore.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You need to enjoy every step of the way and try to just become every day a little bit better version of yourself.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the finish, a magnanimous Niewiadoma-Phinney admitted that having an opponent like Vollering \u2013 the pair have been on the podium of every Tour de France Femmes to date \u2013 is one of her main motivations to improve and get stronger.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Vollering said that the feeling was mutual \u2013 that it&#8217;s true for Niewiadoma-Phinney and her other rivals, too. But she noted that improvement as a rider and chasing these big racing goals isn&#8217;t worth it if it negatively affects life away from the bike.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s really nice that your rivals think things like this about you. I think it also shows their strength. I also believe that all your rivals bring you to a bigger level. Like this, we keep each other motivated and focussed as well. We have to force ourselves to become every day a better version, just because the others are also growing,&#8221; Vollering said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You try to be the best version of yourself \u2013 see it in the long-term version to not do too crazy stuff, because it&#8217;s only your cycling career. After, it&#8217;s still a life. You want to stay healthy, and I don&#8217;t want to sacrifice everything for this dream. Everything I have I will give, but I don&#8217;t want to force myself into corners I don&#8217;t belong.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;This is me, and I have to deal with my size and everything. I know that some girls think getting skinnier is the way to get to a higher level, but I&#8217;m not a believer of that. I believe that first of all, you need to be a healthy version of yourself, a motivated version of yourself.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You train every day very hard, you focus on your recovery, and that&#8217;s how you get better \u2013 not taking shortcuts that are for the short term. I believe you always need to see life in the bigger picture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-8e93429e-9484-11f1-bfbe-9964e957e95b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women&#8217;s cycling by subscribing to <\/strong><em><strong>Cyclingnews<\/strong><\/em><strong>. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women&#8217;s peloton. Plus, the <\/strong><em><strong>Cyclingnews<\/strong><\/em><strong> app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><u><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">CATEGORIES<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Teams &amp; Riders<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6 slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Dani Ostanek<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Senior News Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor, later being hired full-time. Her favourite races include Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro L\u00e9on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Today was just a new day&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering brushes aside Mont Ventoux disappointment to &#8216;live the dream&#8217; back in Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Pressure is a privilege&#8217; \u2013 Calm, mature Demi Vollering taking Tour de France Femmes favourite status in her stride as search to reclaim yellow continues<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I had to try&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering&#8217;s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I felt stronger than in any other editions&#8217; \u2013 Why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney can celebrate second at the Tour de France Femmes as much as her 2024 win<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I think this whole Tour is going to be like this&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Demi Vollering&#8217;s less intense Tour de France Femmes preparation already paying dividends with opening stage time gain<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I really should have closed the gap straight away&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering harbours Mont Ventoux regrets as Niewiadoma-Phinney soars into Tour de France Femmes lead<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Volta a Portugal: Julius Johansen wins stage 5 time trial for second victory the race<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Parent company of Lapierre and Raleigh initiates insolvency proceedings, putting major brands at risk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"page-content-onecol flex-1\nnews-article article\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"widget-area-group widget-area-group-2col flex flex-wrap box-border\">\n<div id=\"widgetArea16\" class=\"widget-area basis-full md:basis-2\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-2-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-2-3 page-widget-area-16\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"hero\" id=\"hero\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-hero widget-hero widget-hero-hero widget-hero widget-hero-fter-news\">\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nWomen&#8217;s Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour de France Femmes\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nDani Ostanek <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T07:00:53Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n10 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Yellow jersey winner and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney held clear-the-air talks over stage 8 controversy before Vollering&#8217;s Col d&#8217;Eze attack sealed yellow jersey<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-widget-type=\"contentparsed\" id=\"content\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-contentparsed widget-content widget-contentparsed-content widget-content-parsed widget-content-parsed-content_document \">\n<div class=\"wcp-item-content\">\n<section class=\"content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"box less-space hero-image-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"mb-0\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1920-80.jpg.webp 1920w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1600-80.jpg.webp 1600w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-750-80.jpg.webp 750w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 600px, 100vw\" \/><figcaption class=\"font-article-copy text-(--image--text--color) font-article-copy mt-2\"><span class=\"caption-text font-article-copy\">A tearful Demi Vollering after her solo ride to the line in Nice confirmed her second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/span><span class=\"credit font-article-copy\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-1b82c626-947f-11f1-903e-55037af44b81\">Following the &#8216;block-gate&#8217; controversy of stage 8 at the Tour de France Femmes, Demi Vollering removed all doubt about the result in the finale on the Col d&#8217;Eze on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney had accused FDJ United-SUEZ of blocking her before the final climb on Saturday, and with just eight seconds in it at the top of the standings afterwards, there was room to question whether the apparent move influenced the Tour&#8217;s overall outcome.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-1b82c626-947f-11f1-903e-55037af44b81-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Not so on Sunday evening, after Vollering dropped the Pole at the top of the Eze, soloing 16.2km to the line to seal the yellow jersey by 1:18. Her overall victory was decisive, beyond question, and, following a mid-stage conversation, the air had been cleared.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I explained again that we really didn&#8217;t want to block her on purpose, and then she accepted it, and she was like, &#8216;OK, I understand.&#8217; It was all good in the end. I think it was good that we had a talk together,&#8221; Vollering explained in the post-race press conference, before telling of how her teammate, C\u00e9lia Gery, the 20-year-old at the centre of the storm, had been affected by the row.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She got a lot of nasty messages, which makes me always very angry, especially because she&#8217;s such a young girl still. We should always protect young people from these kinds of stupid actions from people who don&#8217;t think and just send a message,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Today was just a new day&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering brushes aside Mont Ventoux disappointment to &#8216;live the dream&#8217; back in Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Pressure is a privilege&#8217; \u2013 Calm, mature Demi Vollering taking Tour de France Femmes favourite status in her stride as search to reclaim yellow continues<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I had to try&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering&#8217;s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s very sad to think that you go to somebody&#8217;s profile and send them death-threatening messages. I really cannot understand this, but it makes me very angry. She had a really rough time, so of course today was also motivation for us to show that we can do it without all the commotion about what happened yesterday.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think I just wanted to have a chat with Kasia about this, also because I was just a bit disappointed that she let all the emotions out like that about a rider and saying their name. You should always try to avoid these kinds of things. First of all, we are riders, and then next to it, we are human beings \u2013 we are real people. If you say somebody&#8217;s name or you really attack somebody like this, it really hurts somebody and can really do bad things to people.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We all know racing is crazy, and we try our best to make it as safe as possible, but we are under so much pressure, and sometimes things just happen and go how they go in a race. So I think we should realise that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"i-believe-you-always-need-to-see-life-in-the-bigger-picture-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8216;I believe you always need to see life in the bigger picture&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-844ced20-9485-11f1-af18-45858d65c996\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Vollering and her FDJ United-SUEZ teammates celebrate winning the yellow jersey on the final podium <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8e934230-9484-11f1-acef-173b32ed7048\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">With the controversy consigned to history and racing taking centre stage on Sunday, Vollering made a statement with her winning attack over the final ascent of the Eze, run up a steeper road than the previous three on the stage.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The win, plus the final GC, were her 13th and 14th of the season and stand alongside titles at the Tour of Flanders, Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge, and the Giro d&#8217;Italia in a glittering 2026 campaign that looks like the high point of her career to date.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I felt stronger than in any other editions&#8217; \u2013 Why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney can celebrate second at the Tour de France Femmes as much as her 2024 win<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I think this whole Tour is going to be like this&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Demi Vollering&#8217;s less intense Tour de France Femmes preparation already paying dividends with opening stage time gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I really should have closed the gap straight away&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering harbours Mont Ventoux regrets as Niewiadoma-Phinney soars into Tour de France Femmes lead<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There are still title defences at the World Championships in Montr\u00e9al and the European Championships in Ljubljana to consider, too. Does she feel like this is the best Demi Vollering we&#8217;ve seen to date? And, at the age of 29, is she still improving as a rider?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I feel like I&#8217;m growing as a person as well. Over the years, you learn so much, and you keep on learning. You take that all with you in your backpack, and sometimes you&#8217;re struggling because you think you figured it out, but then at the same time, the moment you start to feel like that, you lose all of it,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;That&#8217;s life. You need to keep evolving, you need to keep working hard, you need to keep working on every detail. I think you never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8217;, because you will never get there. Life is a whole process, and it goes with ups and downs. You need to try to do everything as good as possible, but at the same time, there is no end goal until we&#8217;re not on this world anymore.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You need to enjoy every step of the way and try to just become every day a little bit better version of yourself.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the finish, a magnanimous Niewiadoma-Phinney admitted that having an opponent like Vollering \u2013 the pair have been on the podium of every Tour de France Femmes to date \u2013 is one of her main motivations to improve and get stronger.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Vollering said that the feeling was mutual \u2013 that it&#8217;s true for Niewiadoma-Phinney and her other rivals, too. But she noted that improvement as a rider and chasing these big racing goals isn&#8217;t worth it if it negatively affects life away from the bike.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s really nice that your rivals think things like this about you. I think it also shows their strength. I also believe that all your rivals bring you to a bigger level. Like this, we keep each other motivated and focussed as well. We have to force ourselves to become every day a better version, just because the others are also growing,&#8221; Vollering said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You try to be the best version of yourself \u2013 see it in the long-term version to not do too crazy stuff, because it&#8217;s only your cycling career. After, it&#8217;s still a life. You want to stay healthy, and I don&#8217;t want to sacrifice everything for this dream. Everything I have I will give, but I don&#8217;t want to force myself into corners I don&#8217;t belong.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;This is me, and I have to deal with my size and everything. I know that some girls think getting skinnier is the way to get to a higher level, but I&#8217;m not a believer of that. I believe that first of all, you need to be a healthy version of yourself, a motivated version of yourself.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You train every day very hard, you focus on your recovery, and that&#8217;s how you get better \u2013 not taking shortcuts that are for the short term. I believe you always need to see life in the bigger picture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-8e93429e-9484-11f1-bfbe-9964e957e95b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women&#8217;s cycling by subscribing to <\/strong><em><strong>Cyclingnews<\/strong><\/em><strong>. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women&#8217;s peloton. Plus, the <\/strong><em><strong>Cyclingnews<\/strong><\/em><strong> app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><u><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block mb-5\" id=\"articleTag\" data-component-name=\"PostArticleLinks\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"post-article-links\">\n<div class=\"border-b border-b-black border-solid py-2.5 text-black font-bold uppercase\">CATEGORIES<\/div>\n<nav class=\"py-2.5 flex gap-2.5 flex-wrap\" data-analytics-id=\"article-tag\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-tag\">\n<p>Teams &amp; Riders<\/p>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"slice-container-authorBio-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6\" class=\"slice-container slice-author-bio authorBio-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6 slice-container-authorBio\">\n<div class=\"author author__default-layout author--separator author--collapsible\" data-hydrate=\"true\">\n<div class=\"author__header\">\n<div class=\"author__avatar-block\">\n<figure class=\"image-wrapped__wrapper\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"false\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__widthsetter\">\n<div class=\"image-wrapped__aspect-padding\">\n<div><source class=\"author__avatar image-wrapped__image image__image\" type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh-140-80.jpg.webp 140w\" sizes=\"99vw\" data-normal=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh.jpg\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/PSRUchRz7RcBeXHn7hDvCh.jpg\" data-pin-nopin=\"true\" data-slice-image=\"true\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__heading\">\n<div class=\"author__name\">Dani Ostanek<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__social\">\n<nav class=\"button-social-group author__social-buttons\" aria-labelledby=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">\n<div id=\"button-social-group- author__social-buttons\">Social Links Navigation<\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__role\">Senior News Writer<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"author__bio-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"author__biography\">\n<p>Dani Ostanek is Senior News Writer at Cyclingnews, having joined in 2017 as a freelance contributor, later being hired full-time. Her favourite races include Strade Bianche, the Tour de France Femmes, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro L\u00e9on.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<div class=\"relative max-w-[1070px] viafoura-twig-component mt-6 mx-4 lg:mx-0\" data-component-name=\"Viafoura:Comments\" data-nosnippet data-community-guidelines-text=\"&lt;p class=&apos;vfcustom-community-guidelines&apos;&gt;Please follow our &lt;a href=&quot;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/about\/#section-community-guidelines&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;community guidelines&lt;\/a&gt;.&lt;\/p&gt;\" data-join-the-conversation-text=\"Join the Conversation\">\n<div class=\"absolute top-0 left-0 w-full h-full flex items-center justify-center z-50 bg-white\/90 border-1 rounded-b-[var(--comment-widget-border-radius,0)]\">\n<div class=\"p-2 text-center\">\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-lg!\">You must confirm your public display name before commenting<\/p>\n<p class=\"mb-3 text-sm!\">Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<section class=\"mx-2 my-5 sm:mx-0\">\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-adviser:hybrid\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Read more<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Today was just a new day&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering brushes aside Mont Ventoux disappointment to &#8216;live the dream&#8217; back in Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Pressure is a privilege&#8217; \u2013 Calm, mature Demi Vollering taking Tour de France Femmes favourite status in her stride as search to reclaim yellow continues<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I had to try&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering&#8217;s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I felt stronger than in any other editions&#8217; \u2013 Why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney can celebrate second at the Tour de France Femmes as much as her 2024 win<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I think this whole Tour is going to be like this&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Demi Vollering&#8217;s less intense Tour de France Femmes preparation already paying dividends with opening stage time gain<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;I really should have closed the gap straight away&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering harbours Mont Ventoux regrets as Niewiadoma-Phinney soars into Tour de France Femmes lead<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-category\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gudJt74K2JHZiJzWScBRLT-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Eight things we learnt from a spellbinding edition of the Tour de France Femmes<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside class=\"w-full\" data-nosnippet data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-stacked\">\n<div data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-solr:latest-articletype\">\n<div class=\"text-white py-4 px-3 mb-4 bg-[#333] uppercase font-bold custom-header-styles\">Latest in News<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 mt-4 mb-5\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/gz4JkzFTwRkRJKxz5fjwTM-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Teams &amp; Riders<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/ZCqBH6DWwkMG5yCAUhedBC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/hZidVj7eMmRqjLVSxKW5rC-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">Demi Vollering and FDJ the top earners as one team leaves penniless \u2013 Tour de France Femmes prize money wrapped<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/VSedT282BgEAeFd5bWgv38-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">&#8216;We can make the race harder, but do we want to?&#8217; Tour de France Femmes director Marion Rousse backs variety over difficulty for future route design<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"aspect-[var(--img-listing-aspect-ratio,16\/9)] relative mb-3.5\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-840-80.jpg.webp 840w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-500-80.jpg.webp 500w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-450-80.jpg.webp 450w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/n79SrW7BWswec7z7KtRp4Z-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 900px) 925px, (min-width: 700px) 450px, calc(100vw - 48px)\" \/><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"custom-subheading-styles\">Women&#8217;s Cycling<\/span><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block custom-text-styles\">In Antonia Niedermaier, Canyon-SRAM have created the perfect successor to Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney<\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"relative recirc-feed sponsored-card min-h-[250px]\" data-recirc-id=\"article-river-stacked-ads:native-cards\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"article-river-ads\" data-nosnippet data-ad-slot-path=\"feed-sponsored-post\" data-attribute-device=\"all\">\n<div class=\"max-w-full sponsored-post--placeholder animate-pulse\">\n<div class=\"relative!\"><span class=\"text-base text-black font-bold mx-0 my-2.5 p-0 block bg-gray-100\">\u00a0<br \/>\u00a0<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"widgetArea17\" class=\"widget-area md:basis-1\/3 widget-area-g-md-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-lg-vp-1-3 widget-area-g-xl-vp-1-3 page-widget-area-17\">\n<div data-widget-type=\"dynamic\" id=\"popular-data\" class=\"clear-both widget widget-dynamic widget-popular-data widget-dynamic-popular-data widget-dynamic-fter-popular-box\">\n<div class=\"wdn-fte-pb pos-relative space-t20\n\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"slice-container popular-box-slice\">\n<section class=\"popular-box\" data-component-name=\"Slice:PopularBox\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__label__tab popular-box__label__tab--active\" role=\"heading\">\nLATEST ARTICLES\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<ol class=\"popular-box__articles-list popular-box__articles-list--active\">\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__image-wrapper\">\n<div>\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-1280-80.jpg.webp 1280w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-720-80.jpg.webp 720w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-640-80.jpg.webp 640w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/fM7aQj7cSaNscNYwLVNRDh-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"99vw\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">1<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;My ambition is to become a consistent winner&#8217; &#8211; Pavel Bittner takes his talents to Pinarello-Q36.5 for next two seasons<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">2<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Volta a Portugal: Julius Johansen wins stage 5 time trial for second victory the race<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">3<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Parent company of Lapierre and Raleigh initiates insolvency proceedings, putting major brands at risk<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">4<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>Nicole Frain wins seventh race of season at Heathland Gravel, while fellow Australian sets FKT on Icelandic Divide &#8211; Gravel Bits<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"popular-box__article-list\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__container\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__content\">\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__number-text\">5<\/div>\n<div class=\"popular-box__article-list__heading\">\n<p>&#8216;Extending it to two weeks would be a great step&#8217; \u2013 France&#8217;s lone Tour de France Femmes success story C\u00e9drine Kerbaol excited for race&#8217;s future expansion<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"news-article\">\n<header data-component-name=\"Article:Hero\">\n<nav class=\"breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol>\n<li>\nPro Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRacing\n<\/li>\n<li>\nWomen&#8217;s Cycling\n<\/li>\n<li>\nRoad\n<\/li>\n<li>\nTour de France Femmes\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<h1>&#8216;You never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8221; \u2013 Demi Vollering at her best and still improving with second Tour de France Femmes victory<\/h1>\n<div class=\"byline-social\">\n<div class=\"vds-byline-block flex flex-row flex-nowrap my-1.5 gap-2 text-left items-start justify-start\" data-component-name=\"Article:BylineBlock\">\n<p>News<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-auto vds-simple-byline\"><span class=\"inline-block vds-author\"><br \/>\nBy<br \/>\nDani Ostanek <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"flex gap-1 vds-byline-with-avatar__meta\"><span class=\"vds-date block font-normal tracking-normal normal-case text-xs\"><br \/>\nPublished<br \/>\n<time data-component-name=\"UI:DateTime\" datetime=\"2026-08-10T07:00:53Z\" class=\"relative-date\"><br \/>\n10 August 2026<br \/>\n<\/time><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"strapline\">Yellow jersey winner and Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney held clear-the-air talks over stage 8 controversy before Vollering&#8217;s Col d&#8217;Eze attack sealed yellow jersey<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"text-gray-700 flex items-center mx-0 my-5 p-0 justify-start text-left\" id=\"affiliate-disclaimer\" data-component-name=\"AffiliateDisclaimer\" data-hawk-message=\"Affiliate disclaimer removed because hawk deemed there are no affiliate links on this page\">\n<p class=\"text-[color:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--text-color,inherit)] mb-2 text-[length:var(--affiliate-disclaimer--font-size,0.75rem)] leading-[18px] md:text-[13px] [&amp;&gt;a]:text-inherit [&amp;&gt;a]:underline\">\nWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here\u2019s how it works.\n<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<\/header>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"article-body\" class=\"text-copy bodyCopy auto paywall-locker\">\n<div data-analytics-id=\"utility-bar\" id=\"utility-bar\" class=\"font-ui-heading flex justify-between items-center py-2 border-t border-b border-gray-300 border-solid mb-5 mx-auto\" data-component-name=\"UtilityBar\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"utility-bar\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div data-component-name=\"Social:Dropdown\" role=\"menu\" id=\"utilitybar__dropdown--share\" aria-labelledby=\"utilitybar__button--share\" class=\"absolute left-0 top-full w-44 bg-white rounded-md shadow-md border border-neutral-200 z-[9996] list-none m-0 py-2 px-3 border-solid\">\n<ul class=\"m-0!\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Facebook<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>X<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Pinterest<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"!p-0 !m-0 list-none border-b border-gray-200 border-solid\">\n<p>Email<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-share-this-article\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nShare this article\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\"><span class=\"ml-1 inline-flex h-5 px-2 shrink-0 items-center justify-center self-center overflow-hidden whitespace-nowrap rounded-[10px] bg-primary-500 text-[11px] leading-none font-ui-heading font-semibold text-white\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-join-the-conversation\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nJoin the conversation\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"flex gap-2 text-[#333] subcontainer\">\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<p>Follow us<\/p>\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-add-us-as-a-preferred-source-on-google\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nAdd us as a preferred source on Google\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"relative tooltip-container\" role=\"tooltip\">\n<div class=\"font-ui-heading max-sm:hidden tooltip absolute left-1\/2 bg-gray-900 text-white text-xs leading-none px-3 py-1.5 rounded-md z-[10001] whitespace-nowrap\" id=\"tooltip-subscribe-to-our-newsletter\" role=\"tooltip\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\nSubscribe to our newsletter\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p id=\"elk-1b82c626-947f-11f1-903e-55037af44b81\">Following the &#8216;block-gate&#8217; controversy of stage 8 at the Tour de France Femmes, Demi Vollering removed all doubt about the result in the finale on the Col d&#8217;Eze on Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney had accused FDJ United-SUEZ of blocking her before the final climb on Saturday, and with just eight seconds in it at the top of the standings afterwards, there was room to question whether the apparent move influenced the Tour&#8217;s overall outcome.<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-1b82c626-947f-11f1-903e-55037af44b81-2\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Not so on Sunday evening, after Vollering dropped the Pole at the top of the Eze, soloing 16.2km to the line to seal the yellow jersey by 1:18. Her overall victory was decisive, beyond question, and, following a mid-stage conversation, the air had been cleared.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-6 w-full overflow-hidden rounded-[10px] lg:my-8\" data-component-name=\"JwPlayer:Carousel\" data-jwp-carousel data-jwp-carousel-payload=\"{&quot;ids&quot;:{&quot;playerID&quot;:&quot;jYDCcabO&quot;,&quot;searchPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;divID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;fallbackPlaylistID&quot;:&quot;gwjdoYHD&quot;,&quot;fallbackDivID&quot;:&quot;botr_gwjdoYHD_jYDCcabO_div&quot;,&quot;key&quot;:&quot;X9\/mXVGac0NphghLH9hZaqWA5d3dhAM\/Ih07grnEyMLjuO2E&quot;,&quot;tintLogo&quot;:true,&quot;useSearchPlaylist&quot;:false,&quot;enabled&quot;:true},&quot;signPostingEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;signPostingLinkEnabled&quot;:true,&quot;waitForAdLoad&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnDesktop&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnMobile&quot;:false,&quot;hidePlayerOnTablet&quot;:false}\">\n<div class=\"flex flex-nowrap items-center justify-between gap-3 bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-header>\n<div class=\"flex min-w-0 shrink items-center\"><span class=\"inline-flex items-center gap-1.5 text-sm font-article-heading capitalize leading-5 text-white whitespace-nowrap\"><span class=\"jwp-carousel-title-desktop\">Latest Videos From<\/span><span class=\"jwp-carousel-brand\">Cyclingnews<\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"min-h-[44px] bg-zinc-900 px-[14px] py-3\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting><a class=\"invisible block truncate text-sm font-bold leading-5 text-white underline decoration-solid underline-offset-2\" data-jwp-carousel-signposting-link href target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span data-jwp-carousel-signposting-title>Watch full video here: <\/span><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I explained again that we really didn&#8217;t want to block her on purpose, and then she accepted it, and she was like, &#8216;OK, I understand.&#8217; It was all good in the end. I think it was good that we had a talk together,&#8221; Vollering explained in the post-race press conference, before telling of how her teammate, C\u00e9lia Gery, the 20-year-old at the centre of the storm, had been affected by the row.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;She got a lot of nasty messages, which makes me always very angry, especially because she&#8217;s such a young girl still. We should always protect young people from these kinds of stupid actions from people who don&#8217;t think and just send a message,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/RcLGHsmANRLyaSeuqq9wUn-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Today was just a new day&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering brushes aside Mont Ventoux disappointment to &#8216;live the dream&#8217; back in Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/R9fjniWKaCGHvYzTeSTkpW-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;Pressure is a privilege&#8217; \u2013 Calm, mature Demi Vollering taking Tour de France Femmes favourite status in her stride as search to reclaim yellow continues<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/TWKeeozTYcmKE7LoTJiKUN-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I had to try&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering&#8217;s late roll of the dice pays off as the Tour de France Femmes hits the hills on stage 5<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I mean, it&#8217;s very sad to think that you go to somebody&#8217;s profile and send them death-threatening messages. I really cannot understand this, but it makes me very angry. She had a really rough time, so of course today was also motivation for us to show that we can do it without all the commotion about what happened yesterday.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think I just wanted to have a chat with Kasia about this, also because I was just a bit disappointed that she let all the emotions out like that about a rider and saying their name. You should always try to avoid these kinds of things. First of all, we are riders, and then next to it, we are human beings \u2013 we are real people. If you say somebody&#8217;s name or you really attack somebody like this, it really hurts somebody and can really do bad things to people.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-8exKpkYQwF9MojgFvtE5u6 slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__header\">Get The Leadout Newsletter<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<footer class=\"newsletter-form__footer \">By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &amp; Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.<\/footer>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;We all know racing is crazy, and we try our best to make it as safe as possible, but we are under so much pressure, and sometimes things just happen and go how they go in a race. So I think we should realise that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"i-believe-you-always-need-to-see-life-in-the-bigger-picture-3\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8216;I believe you always need to see life in the bigger picture&#8217;<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout kiosq-b\" data-bordeaux-image-check id=\"elk-844ced20-9485-11f1-af18-45858d65c996\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\">\n<source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pWJf5QqAR2ri7UVR9sj2pN-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Vollering and her FDJ United-SUEZ teammates celebrate winning the yellow jersey on the final podium <\/span><span class=\"credit\">(Image credit: Getty Images)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-8e934230-9484-11f1-acef-173b32ed7048\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">With the controversy consigned to history and racing taking centre stage on Sunday, Vollering made a statement with her winning attack over the final ascent of the Eze, run up a steeper road than the previous three on the stage.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">The win, plus the final GC, were her 13th and 14th of the season and stand alongside titles at the Tour of Flanders, Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge, and the Giro d&#8217;Italia in a glittering 2026 campaign that looks like the high point of her career to date.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet class=\"clear-both pt-2 pb-0 mb-4\"><span class=\"\n            flex\n            after:content-[&apos;&apos;] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]\n            before:content-[&apos;&apos;] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]\n            font-article-heading pb-0 text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,1em)] uppercase sm:text-[length:var(--article-river-title--font-size,0.875em)] font-bold\n        \"><br \/>\n            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<ul class=\"flex flex-col gap-0 m-0 max-w-full\">\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-1\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-1\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-1\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/6NUEeJiePnSET8EhXxbGTD-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I felt stronger than in any other editions&#8217; \u2013 Why Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney can celebrate second at the Tour de France Femmes as much as her 2024 win<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ededed] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-2\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-2\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-2\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/pduVrSbBhQ5tn3an23hwWo-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I think this whole Tour is going to be like this&#8217; \u2013\u00a0Demi Vollering&#8217;s less intense Tour de France Femmes preparation already paying dividends with opening stage time gain<\/span><\/li>\n<li class=\"m-0 list-none border-b border-solid border-[#ccc] py-2\" data-recirculation-id=\"recirculation-card-3\" id=\"recirculation-inline-2-3\" data-analytics-id=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"recirculation-2-inline-3\">\n    <source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-250-80.jpg.webp 250w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/YbJTLfrS6PRMEczmLr7cGN-150-80.jpg.webp 150w\" sizes=\"150px\" \/><span class=\"w-full text-base font-[var(--article-river-item--font-weight,500)] font-article-heading line-clamp-3 md:line-clamp-2\">&#8216;I really should have closed the gap straight away&#8217; \u2013 Demi Vollering harbours Mont Ventoux regrets as Niewiadoma-Phinney soars into Tour de France Femmes lead<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/aside>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">There are still title defences at the World Championships in Montr\u00e9al and the European Championships in Ljubljana to consider, too. Does she feel like this is the best Demi Vollering we&#8217;ve seen to date? And, at the age of 29, is she still improving as a rider?<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I feel like I&#8217;m growing as a person as well. Over the years, you learn so much, and you keep on learning. You take that all with you in your backpack, and sometimes you&#8217;re struggling because you think you figured it out, but then at the same time, the moment you start to feel like that, you lose all of it,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;That&#8217;s life. You need to keep evolving, you need to keep working hard, you need to keep working on every detail. I think you never should think you&#8217;re &#8216;there&#8217;, because you will never get there. Life is a whole process, and it goes with ups and downs. You need to try to do everything as good as possible, but at the same time, there is no end goal until we&#8217;re not on this world anymore.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You need to enjoy every step of the way and try to just become every day a little bit better version of yourself.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">After the finish, a magnanimous Niewiadoma-Phinney admitted that having an opponent like Vollering \u2013 the pair have been on the podium of every Tour de France Femmes to date \u2013 is one of her main motivations to improve and get stronger.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">Vollering said that the feeling was mutual \u2013 that it&#8217;s true for Niewiadoma-Phinney and her other rivals, too. But she noted that improvement as a rider and chasing these big racing goals isn&#8217;t worth it if it negatively affects life away from the bike.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s really nice that your rivals think things like this about you. I think it also shows their strength. I also believe that all your rivals bring you to a bigger level. Like this, we keep each other motivated and focussed as well. We have to force ourselves to become every day a better version, just because the others are also growing,&#8221; Vollering said.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You try to be the best version of yourself \u2013 see it in the long-term version to not do too crazy stuff, because it&#8217;s only your cycling career. After, it&#8217;s still a life. You want to stay healthy, and I don&#8217;t want to sacrifice everything for this dream. Everything I have I will give, but I don&#8217;t want to force myself into corners I don&#8217;t belong.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;This is me, and I have to deal with my size and everything. I know that some girls think getting skinnier is the way to get to a higher level, but I&#8217;m not a believer of that. I believe that first of all, you need to be a healthy version of yourself, a motivated version of yourself.<\/p>\n<p aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\">&#8220;You train every day very hard, you focus on your recovery, and that&#8217;s how you get better \u2013 not taking shortcuts that are for the short term. I believe you always need to see life in the bigger picture.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-8e93429e-9484-11f1-bfbe-9964e957e95b\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"kiosq-b\"><strong>Support our unrivalled coverage of the Tour de France Femmes and women&#8217;s cycling by subscribing to <\/strong><em><strong>Cyclingnews<\/strong><\/em><strong>. In return, you get unlimited access to high-quality journalism, with breaking news, race analysis, and expert insight from inside the women&#8217;s peloton. Plus, the <\/strong><em><strong>Cyclingnews<\/strong><\/em><strong> app lets you follow the action wherever you go! <\/strong><u><strong>Join today.<\/strong><\/u><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/you-never-should-think-youre-there-demi-vollering-at-her-best-and-still-improving-after-second-tour-de-france-femmes-victory\/&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/nDyVaKisUHk4n5RxCDmYD9-2560-80.jpg&#8221;] 1 &#8216;I lost all respect for them\u2019 \u2013 Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney accuses Demi Vollering&#8217;s teammate C\u00e9lia Gery of lack of &#8216;fair play&#8217; after Tour de France Femmes stage 8 2 As it happened: Mont Ventoux inspires a historic solo win and shakes-up the 2026 Tour de France Femmes GC battle 3 &#8216;Really stupid [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,68],"class_list":["post-2086939","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-cyclingnews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086939","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2086939"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2086939\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2086939"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2086939"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2086939"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}