Vollering takes Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey with time-trial win

Demi Vollering of the Netherlands showcased her dominance in the Tour de France Femmes with a stunning time-trial victory in Rotterdam, propelling her into the race leader's yellow jersey. The SD Worx Protime team rider expressed her surprise and emotion after the win, stating, “I really didn’t see this coming.” Vollering, who previously secured the title last year through her climbing skills, outpaced her competitors in the flat 6.3km time trial, finishing five seconds ahead of Chloé Dygert from Canyon-SRAM Racing. The day featured two stages, beginning with a short road race where Charlotte Kool of Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL triumphed again, defeating Vollering’s teammate Lorena Wiebes and cycling star Marianne Vos. Vollering, reflecting on the early stages, noted that her goal was simply to survive and enjoy the experience, without any expectations. Her impressive performance in the time trial indicates she is in peak form, as she stated, “It’s up to the other teams to take the yellow jersey from us now.” Looking ahead, Vollering will have the chance to solidify her lead in the upcoming Ardennes stage, which includes challenging climbs reminiscent of the classic Liège–Bastogne–Liège race. Meanwhile, the Australian Olympic time-trial champion Grace Brown faced setbacks due to a bike change, while American riders Kristen Faulkner and Dygert fell short of Vollering’s time. The Tashkent City team from Uzbekistan, however, has struggled significantly, raising concerns about their performance in the mountainous stages ahead.