The 2024 edition of the Tour de France Femmes entered its decisive final chapter on Sunday, with all eyes turning to the sun-drenched French Riviera city of Nice, where Dutch cycling star Demi Vollering began the day clinging to the race leader’s coveted yellow jersey. The 2023 overall champion, already one of the most accomplished riders on the women’s peloton, was chasing back-to-back Tour de France titles, but her path to victory faced a significant late challenge from two hungry competitors.
Vollering held only an eight-second overall advantage over second-placed Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney, the Polish climbing specialist who had already secured the 2024 general classification crown ahead of the final stage. Sitting third, 1 minute 12 seconds off the lead, was Swiss time trial world champion Marlen Reusser, who was still in striking distance of a podium spot when the stage got underway.
The history between the top two riders added extra drama to the final day’s racing. Two years prior, Niewiadoma-Phinney claimed her first ever Tour de France title in a heart-stopping final mountain stage, edging out Vollering by a mere four seconds overall to seal one of the most memorable finishes in modern women’s cycling. Off the back of that historic victory, Niewiadoma-Phinney was well positioned to replicate her late-stage magic and climb to the top of the general classification once again.
Vollering’s credentials heading into the final stage were unmatched. The 29-year-old Dutch rider had already secured victory in all three of women’s cycling Grand Tours, with two overall titles at the Vuelta a España Femenina and a win at the Giro d’Italia Women just months earlier in June. Her consistency across the sport’s biggest races made her the clear favorite to defend her lead, even with such a narrow gap to close out.
The 9th and final stage covered just under 100 kilometers (62 miles) of winding, hilly terrain around southeastern France. The route featured four full loops through the outskirts of Nice and four punishing ascents of Col d’Èze, a steep climb tucked into hills that overlook the tiny coastal Principality of Monaco. Mid-stage, the racing suffered a setback for Reusser: the Swiss rider crashed on a downhill section after her second climb of Col d’Èze, requiring urgent on-course medical attention before she could remount her bike. The incident effectively ended her chances of climbing onto the overall podium, dealing a major blow to her bid for a top-three finish. The stage concludes with a fast descending run past the picturesque seaside town of Villefranche-sur-Mer before the finish line in central Nice, where this year’s overall champion will be crowned.