"I came here for stage wins and the yellow jersey" - Demi Vollering finds no happiness in 2nd overall at 2025 Tour de France Femmes

A former Maillot Jaune winner, Demi Vollering finds no happiness in her 2nd overall finish at the 2025 Tour de France Femmes. After another dominant performance by Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on the final stage, Vollering ends the race 3:42 down on the Yellow Jersey.

“I came here for stage wins and the yellow jersey but didn’t get either,” Vollering admitted to reporters with clear disappointment after crossing the line in Châtel Les Portes du Soleil. “It’s a pity, but after stage three we weren’t sure if I could continue.”

It was a brutally honest assessment from the 2023 Tour de France Femmes champion, who had come into this year’s edition with high expectations and left empty-handed — at least on paper. But Vollering didn’t go quietly. On the final climb of the final stage, she launched the move that ultimately decided the race. “I needed to try,” she said of the move. “In hindsight, maybe I should have stayed with Pauline on the last climb. My attack created the perfect moment for her to counter.”

It was a candid reflection from one of the peloton’s sharpest tactical minds. In that moment — with 7km remaining and the general classification still within reach — Vollering did what champions do: she raced to win, not to settle. “Today I wanted to try everything I could,” she continued. “That’s cycling – you only know afterward if it was the right decision.”

That risk may not have delivered a second Maillot Jaune, but it was the kind of move that elevates a race and earns respect. Ferrand-Prévot took full advantage, countering with perfect timing and storming away to stage and overall victory. “Pauline was flying yesterday and made the difference again today,” Vollering said. “She had the advantage of not having to work while we were all riding, but she was incredibly strong.”

Despite the personal disappointment, Vollering was quick to highlight the depth and quality of the women’s peloton. “Cycling is in a great place now,” she said. “You see how many good riders we have, with new talent still emerging.”

It’s a sentiment that rings true — and one that Vollering, even without a podium this time, continues to embody. Sometimes the results don’t tell the full story. In Châtel, Vollering may not have won, but she raced like a champion until the very end.