Lorena Wiebes claimed her second stage victory in the 2025 Tour de France Femmes with another powerful sprint finish, holding off Marianne Vos in an uphill dash to the line in Poitiers. The Dutch sprinter’s victory on stage four adds to her growing list of accolades in what she calls her best season to date. With wins in Milan-San Remo and the Giro d’Italia points classification already under her belt this year, Wiebes has cemented her position as one of the dominant forces in women’s cycling.
Riding for Team SD Worx-Protime, Wiebes highlighted a more relaxed approach this season, crediting her free mindset for her consistent success. Despite the competitive pressure of the Tour, she insists the environment within the team allows her to perform at her best without being weighed down by expectations.
While Wiebes was celebrating, pre-race favourite Demi Vollering was simply relieved to complete the stage. A crash near the end of stage three had cast serious doubt over her continuation in the race. Starting stage four in visible discomfort, Vollering managed to finish with the main group a positive outcome after a tense and emotional lead-up.
Vollering, who won the Tour de France Femmes in 2023 and transferred to FDJ-Suez in a high-profile €1 million move, described her nerves during the stage, especially with the finish resembling the crash site from the previous day. She admitted riding near the front of the peloton for safety, supported constantly by her teammates.
The aftermath of her crash sparked controversy after her team manager claimed other riders lacked respect for Vollering during the incident. Rival teams were quick to dismiss the remarks, with some mocking the notion that the peloton should have slowed down in deference.
This incident marks Vollering’s second major crash in as many editions of the race, echoing her fall during last year’s stage four. Although she avoided a time loss due to the five-kilometre rule, she noted the psychological impact of the fall, saying it brought back unwanted memories.
With the race’s longest stage looming and multiple climbs ahead, Vollering faces a tough road to recovery, but the resilience and unity of her FDJ-Suez team could yet keep her in contention.
