Knives are sharpened for "the final battle" between Vollering and Niewiadoma: "Had the idea that she was very scared"

The Tour de France Femmes looks to turn into a battle between Demi Vollering and Kasia Niewiadoma on the Alpe d'Huez. In the difficult second-to-last stage on Saturday, the two were very close. Thus, Vollering must make up a 1.15-minute gap in the final stage. In her reaction after stage eight, the Dutch rider sharpened her knives with psychological warfare.

"It was a long and tough day," Vollering told NOS about stage eight. "The climb was as I expected, not tough or steep enough. If you then start riding up front, everyone benefits. I didn't want to do that." Vollering did throw some little punches just before the final climb and in the last straight line. "Yes, I did want to make Kasia a little nervous. I succeeded, and she looked back the whole time. I felt like she was very afraid I was going to attack. That gave a nice feeling," said a satisfied Vollering.

In the final meters, Niewiadoma lost Vollering's wheel, but the Polish rider got about the same time as the Dutch rider. "That I managed to create a gap was nice," continued Vollering, who wants to attack the Alpe d'Huez on the final day. "Tomorrow, the climbs are much harder. Hopefully, that will be enough for me."

It was the second day for Vollering after her crash, which is usually when cyclists experience the most difficulty. "The body held up well. It's the end of the Tour, so nobody feels top anymore anyway. Now I have to make sure I recover well for tomorrow. Whether it works or not, we'll see afterward. I can stress a lot about having to succeed, but that only adds pressure. So I try not to put too much weight on my shoulders," concluded the current number eight overall rider.

Niewiadoma responds laconically to texts Vollering

Niewiadoma could reflect on a successful day, as she did not lose time on Vollering. "Today was a good race for us, especially as a team. We had a good performance. Thanks to my teammates, I could stay relaxed and save my energy for the final," the general classification leader said in a conversation with NOS. Niewiadoma noticed that many riders were no longer having a good time. "I get the feeling that the whole peloton is getting tired. The speed is slower. It is advantageous because I have put a lot of work into staying fit. Hopefully, I'll complete it tomorrow."

Then, Vollering's words: is Niewiadoma a little afraid of her big competitor? "Interesting, if she says so, it must be true," Niewiadoma shrugged. Nervous or not, Sunday will decide who will win the third edition of the Tour de France Femmes. #Everyone is looking forward to tomorrow; it's the crucial stage. But I look at it day by day. I aim to start at the foot of the Alpe d'Huez as fresh as possible and be ready for the final battle," Niewiadoma concluded.