The Vollering Niewiadoma rivalry moved into sharper focus at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift after a volatile final weekend.
Demi Vollering won the race overall and became the first woman to claim two Tour de France Femmes titles. Kasia Niewiadoma finished second after a race that produced fierce competition, public criticism, and a late attempt at reconciliation.
The tension followed Saturday’s eighth stage, where Niewiadoma criticised Vollering’s teammate Célia Gery for a move she viewed as beyond acceptable race tactics. Canyon-SRAM lodged a formal complaint after the incident, which quickly drew wider attention.
The controversy became known around the race as “Kasia corner,” and it triggered heavy reaction online. FDJ United-Suez director Lars Boom told Sporza that Gery received online death threats after the episode.
Vollering Niewiadoma rivalry resurfaces at the Tour
Vollering and Niewiadoma have shared many of the same podiums in recent seasons. Both riders have reached the podium in every edition of the Tour de France Femmes.
They have also been separated by just one position in four of five editions of the race. This season, they also shared podiums at Omloop Nieuwsblad, Amstel Gold Race, and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Vollering, 29, and Niewiadoma, 31, remain two of the closest rivals in the Women’s WorldTour. Their contest again shaped the Tour, both on the road and away from it.
Vollering took three stage wins and finished with a 1:16 overall advantage. Her final-stage performance around Nice confirmed her strength after a turbulent 24 hours.
After stage 9, Vollering said she wanted to show her team had not won because of Saturday’s incident. She said FDJ United-Suez deserved the Tour victory “with humility and with pride.”
Niewiadoma later acknowledged that Vollering had been stronger. She also said the Dutch rider pushed her to improve.
Old Tour de France Femmes wounds reopen
The dispute did not stay limited to Saturday’s race situation. Vollering referred to the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, when she crashed in the yellow jersey 6km from the finish of stage 5.
On that day, Vollering’s SD Worx teammates largely left her behind as the front group raced toward the finish. Niewiadoma rode in the leading group that did not wait.
The time Niewiadoma gained became decisive in her overall Tour victory. Vollering suggested this week that Niewiadoma should not now lecture others on fair play.
Speaking before the final stage, Vollering said she had not forgotten what happened when she lay on the ground. She added that Niewiadoma was not best placed to speak about fair play.
Niewiadoma also stood by her own view of Saturday’s episode. She said she had been in the race, understood how it felt, and had expressed her opinion.
She said she knew what was right and what was not necessarily right. She also rejected the idea that she had invented anything.
A fragile truce after the finish
By Sunday night, both riders described a calmer exchange during the final stage around Nice. Niewiadoma said they had competed for years and would keep competing in coming years.
She added that neither rider wanted “any sort of a beef” between them. Cameras also showed Niewiadoma visiting FDJ United-Suez manager Lars Boom to smooth over tensions with Vollering’s team.
That gesture followed earlier friction over possible apologies. According to IDL, Niewiadoma brushed aside a question about FDJ Suez manager Stephen Delcourt believing Vollering deserved an apology after Saturday’s outburst.
Both riders leave the Tour with significant performances. Vollering leaves with a second yellow jersey, three stage victories, and clear overall superiority.
Niewiadoma leaves after refusing to fade against the strongest rider in the race. She also delivered a major climbing performance on Mont Ventoux.
Their remaining 2026 schedules are unknown. Yet the Vollering Niewiadoma rivalry now carries another layer into their next major meeting.
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- Vollering wins Tour Femmes stage 8 to take yellow in Nice
- FDJ backs Célia Gery after Tour Femmes clash with Niewiadoma
- Niewiadoma-Phinney criticises FDJ after Tour de France Femmes incident