Vollering Strikes In Nice And Seizes The Yellow Jersey

Demi Vollering turned the 2026 Tour de France Femmes upside down once again with a late attack on the road into Nice. The Dutch rider won stage eight by 17 seconds and took the yellow jersey from Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who now trails her by only eight seconds with one day remaining.

The longest stage of the race, covering 171.9 kilometres from Sisteron, appeared likely to end in a sprint. Loes Adegeest and Maëva Squiban formed the main breakaway and built an advantage of around six minutes in extreme heat. Squiban's hopes ended with a crash on the descent from the Côte de Colomars, while Adegeest was caught on the final climb.

Vollering attacked a little over six kilometres from the finish on the Côte de la Ginestière. Elisa Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma tried to respond, but neither could hold her pace. Vollering continued alone to the Promenade des Anglais, while Longo Borghini finished second and Niewiadoma crossed the line third in the same time, 17 seconds behind.

Marlen Reusser remains third overall but is now 1:12 behind the new leader. Spain's Paula Blasi finished ninth, 38 seconds down, and holds seventh place overall at 5:05. Vollering and Niewiadoma will enter Sunday's final stage around Nice separated by just eight seconds, leaving the Tour open until the very end.