Vollering Seizes Overall Lead With Powerful Late Attack Ahead of Women's Tour de France Finale

Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering, winner of this year's Giro and reigning 2023 Tour de France champion, launched a decisive attack six kilometres from the finish of stage eight of the women's race to surge into the overall lead ahead of Sunday's final stage.

Poland's Katarzyna Niewiadoma, who had led since her triumphant ride up the legendary Mont Ventoux on Friday with a 15-second cushion, held on gamely on the steep climb but eventually cracked under the pace. On the final descent and along the finishing straight on Nice's Promenade des Anglais, Vollering pulled clear by 17 seconds and picked up a ten-second time bonus for the stage win. To make matters worse for Niewiadoma, Italy's Elisa Longo Borghini also beat her to the line.

The Czech's Only Rider Crashes

The Czech Republic's sole representative in the race, Nikola Nosková, crashed within the peloton with almost 30 kilometres left and finished 126th, exactly 12 minutes down. Heading into Sunday's 99.2km finale, which features four ascents of the Col d'Èze, she sits 82nd overall, 1:45:23 behind the leader.

Defending Champion Withdraws

Last year's winner, Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, failed to start today's stage. Her Visma-Lease a Bike team said the French rider felt unwell in the morning and withdrew from the race after consulting with doctors. Her chances of repeating last year's triumph had already looked slim, however: after stage seven, which included the race's first-ever climb of Mont Ventoux, the Olympic mountain bike champion sat 14th overall, 14.5 minutes behind Niewiadoma.

Ahead of Sunday's decisive final stage, Vollering leads the overall standings with a time of 28:10:18, with Niewiadoma second, eight seconds back, and Switzerland's Marlene Reusser third, 1:12 behind.

Around Prague, based on reporting by sport.cz