Portugal Colonial - Vollering grabs Tour de France lead in Nice

The Dutch rider now leads the Pole by eight seconds with a title struggle in the hills outside Nice ripe for a tense finale on Sunday's final stage with a series of four climbs of the steep seven-kilometre Col d'Eze.

Stage 8 was a 171.9 km run from Sisteron to Nice with a flat route interrupted by a late climb which the 2023 champion used to full advantage, dropping Niewiadoma on its steepest section.

Vollering then extended her advantage to 17sec at the Nice seafront Promenade des Anglais finish line.

"I can't tell you how much I suffered, but with all the good people I have round me, that made it possible. I gave it everything," said Vollering, who appeared to be exhausted.

Swiss rider Marlen Reusser who took the yellow jersey in Tuesday's time-trial and held on another day, is now in third place 1min 12sec off the pace, with Elisa Longo Borghini at 3min 05sec in fourth.

Defending champion Pauline Ferrand-Prevot withdrew Saturday morning due to illness after having struggled to the finish line on Friday over 10min down at the line.

O.Gaspar--PC