Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney accuses FDJ United-Suez of 'childish' tactics as she loses Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift lead to Demi Vollering
By Alex Livie
Updated 08/08/2026 at 19:40 GMT+1
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Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney accused FDJ United-Suez rider Celia Gery of forcing her into the barriers after she lost the yellow jersey to Demi Vollering on the penultimate stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
'Lost all respect for them' - Niewiadoma-Phinney accuses FDJ United-Suez of blocking
Video credit: TNT Sports
On a day when many felt the sprinters would hold sway, Vollering’s FDJ United-Suez team lit up the race on the final climb.
Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) attempted to keep pace, but cracked metres from the summit and was unable to reel in Vollering on the run into the finish in Nice.
Vollering crossed the line 17 seconds to the good and, with bonuses factored in, took over the race lead by eight seconds from Niewiadoma-Phinney before the concluding Stage 9 on Sunday.
Niewiadoma-Phinney spoke to TNT Sports after the stage and said she would formulate a strategy with her team in a bid to claw back the yellow jersey, but was deeply unhappy with what she said were ”childish” tactics from FDJ United-Suez.
”I thought they would do something, they always have a plan, so I am not surprised,” Niewiadoma-Phinney said when asked if she expected an attack from Vollering.
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Turning her focus to Vollering’s team-mate Gery, the 2024 race winner said: ”I was super annoyed at the bottom of the climb because Gery on purpose blocked me into the barriers where I had to stop pedalling.
”If they want to compete, they should compete fair play and not try and close me into the barriers because I feel it is so childish.
”Honestly, I lost all the respect for them for that.”
Asked for her thoughts on Sunday’s final stage, Niewiadoma-Phinney said: ”We need to talk with the team and evaluate what the plan is now.”
Dani Rowe felt Niewiadoma-Phinney did all she could and should not be too downbeat.
”I think initially it will be [a feeling of disappointment] but we have one stage left where so much can happen,” Rowe said on TNT Sports. ”I think she did everything she could have, well positioned into that climb.Â
”It was interesting that she did not have the legs to contribute with Elisa Longo-Borghini [UAE Team L'Imad] on the final run in. She must have just emptied the tank, and that is ultimately all you can do.
"It will be the last roll of the dice [on Sunday] and there will be fireworks."
Stage 9 starts and finishes in Nice, with four punishing ascents of Col d’Eze - with the action live on TNT Sports and HBO Max.
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