'My legs were just finished' - Demi Vollering explains how queen stage left her with no 'answer' to Sarah Gigante and Pauline Ferrand-Prevot
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Published 02/08/2025 at 21:50 GMT+1
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Demi Vollering's bid to reclaim the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift came crashing down around her during Saturday's gruelling queen stage. Vollering was dropped by Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Sarah Gigante and left trying to cling onto a podium spot. The Dutch star admitted her "legs were finished" after the race, saying she "didn't have an answer" to Gigante's attack.
Stage 8 highlights: Ferrand-Prevot crushes queen stage to stand on brink of history
Video credit: TNT Sports
Demi Vollering (FDJ-Suez) said her "legs were finished" after her yellow jersey hopes all-but ended on a gruelling queen stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
The 2023 champion, who finished as runner-up last year, was considered among the big favourites for this year’s race and entered Saturday’s crucial stage in GC contention.
But her challenge fell apart when Pauline Ferrand-Prevot (Visma-Lease a Bike) roared ahead alongside Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal) with 11.7 kilometres to go before pulling clear of the Australian to claim a famous solo victory.
Vollering, meanwhile, was left admitting she "didn’t have an answer" after ending the day third in the general classification and 3’18" behind new leader Ferrand-Prevot ahead of Sunday’s final stage.
"I just don't feel myself. I just miss some power in the legs. My heart and lungs were OK, but my legs were just finished today," said Vollering.
"I felt good in the beginning, but I didn't have an answer to Sarah Gigante's attack. Normally, I should be able to follow, but I'm very disappointed, of course.
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'Like nothing I’ve ever seen before' – Reaction to Ferrand-Prevot's solo destruction of queen stage
Video credit: TNT Sports
"I just couldn't keep up. It's as simple as that. Cycling is very simple for once."
Although Vollering was left behind by Ferrand-Prevot and Gigante, she did rally late in the climb to take time off defending champion Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto) and tighten her grip on third place in the GC.
"I rode flat out to the finish in the final kilometre. I didn't have much left, but it was at least enough to drop Kasia," Vollering said.
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"Maybe I can get a podium finish in the GC, but we'll see. At the moment, I feel pretty rotten. Let's recover first, then look at tomorrow."
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift concludes on Sunday with Stage 9, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
The final 124km stage from Praz-sur-Arly to Chatel features three ascents including two 8.5% gradient climbs at Col de Joux-Plane (11.6km) and Col du Corbier (5.9km).
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