Tour de Romandie Feminin: Millimetres decide - Vollering wins stage 2 ahead of Kopecky

It was all about millimetres, but in the end the pendulum swung in favour of Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx - Protime), who celebrated her 15th win of the season. Together with her team-mate Lotte Kopecky, she reached the finishing straight in Vercorin after 102 kilometres, which led uphill after a final climb of almost ten kilometres. A photo finish was the deciding factor, as both sprinted the last few metres wheel to wheel towards the finish line. While Vollering was slightly ahead, the world champion was able to console herself with the overall lead, in which she now has a two-second advantage over the Dutchwoman.

Italian Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) finished third in both the daily and overall standings, 34 seconds behind the SD-Worx duo. Five seconds behind her was Mavi Garcia (Liv AlUla Jayco).

As on the previous day, SD Worx dominated the day, and this time the Dutch team was rewarded for its efforts. It wasn't until a good three kilometres before the end that another SD Worx rider, Niamh Fischer-Black, broke away from the leading group of favourites with her pace work. Only Realini and Garcia were able to stay with the trio. Only Kopecky was able to follow a further increase in pace by Vollering. And she also seemed to be clearly beaten shortly before the finish, before she fought her way back to the same level as the eventual winner. But she was unable to overtake her.

Liane Lippert (Movistar), third the day before, finished 16th, 2:22 minutes behind Antonia Niedermaier (Canyon//SRAM Racing). The two German hopefuls are also 15th and 16th in the overall standings.

Tour de Romandie Feminin 2024 - Results: the top 10 of stage 2

1. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx - Protime) 2:50:17
2. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime) +0:00
3. Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) +0:34
4. Mavi Garcia (Liv AlUla Jayco) +0:39
5. Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +0:54
6. Niamh Fisher-Black (Team SD Worx - Protime) +1:02
7. Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +1:06
8. Ashleigh Moolman (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +1:16
9. Lore De Schepper (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +1:22
10. Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) +1:27

The overall standings

1. Lotte Kopecky (Team SD Worx - Protime) 6:19:20
2. Demi Vollering (Team SD Worx - Protime) +0:02
3. Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek) +0:42
4. Mavi Garcia (Liv AlUla Jayco) +1:01
5. Juliette Labous (Team dsm-firmenich PostNL) +1:06
6. Niamh Fisher-Black (Team SD Worx - Protime) +1:14
7. Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +1:18
8. Ashleigh Moolman (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +1:28
9. Lore De Schepper (AG Insurance - Soudal Team) +1:34
10. Cédrine Kerbaol (Ceratizit-WNT Pro Cycling Team) +1:39

>> All stages of the Tour de Romandie Feminin 2024 at a glance

The Tour de Romandie Feminin 2024 is part of the UCI Women's World Tour, the premier league of women's cycling, and runs until Sunday over a total of three stages. The final stage around Morges is 144 kilometres long, but could also have an impact on the overall standings. The stage is quite undulating, but Vollering and Kopecky are unlikely to be left behind.