'I really should have closed the gap straight away' – Demi Vollering harbours Mont Ventoux regrets as Niewiadoma-Phinney soars into Tour de France Femmes lead
Cyclingnews • • sports
Key Points:
- Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney claimed victory on the Mont Ventoux stage of the Tour de France Femmes, taking the yellow jersey with a decisive attack 9.7km from the summit and finishing 1:16 ahead of 2023 champion Demi Vollering.
- Vollering, who had attempted to close the gap earlier by attacking 11km from the summit, remains second overall, trailing Niewiadoma-Phinney by 15 seconds, with hopes of reclaiming the lead in the remaining stages.
- FDJ United-SUEZ's directeur sportif Nicolas Maire expressed confidence that Vollering can still contend for overall victory despite the unexpected outcome on Ventoux.
- Vollering admitted to some disappointment over not responding more effectively to Niewiadoma-Phinney’s decisive move, citing the difficulty of giving 100% effort on such a challenging climb.
- Tactical dynamics between Vollering and former teammate Marlen Reusser were highlighted, with commentators noting that both eased off too soon and allowed Niewiadoma-Phinney to gain a critical advantage.
