Kasia Niewiadoma 'lost faith' before sealing famous triumph at Tour de France Femmes - 'I hated everything'
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Published 18/08/2024 at 20:14 GMT
Kasia Niewiadoma nearly saw her Tour de France Femmes hopes dashed when Demi Vollering and Pauliena Rooijakkers broke away on the final stage. Despite a shrinking lead and the odds against her, Niewiadoma battled fiercely and managed to secure the overall victory by a razor-thin margin of just four seconds. For Vollering, it was a case of what might have been after her crash on Stage 5.
Niewiadoma admits she 'lost faith' when Vollering pulled away
Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) confessed she "lost faith" when Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime) and Pauliena Rooijakkers (Fenix–Deceuninck) left her behind on the final stage of the Tour de France Femmes.
Niewiadoma claimed a stunning overall victory by just four seconds on Sunday, but only after digging deep and limiting her losses to her two general classification rivals on the iconic Alpe d'Huez.
Vollering and Rooijakkers had pulled away on Col du Glandon, the penultimate climb, with over 50km remaining, sparking fears Niewiadoma's stint in the yellow jersey would end at the final hurdle.
Niewiadoma began the day with a 1'15" advantage over Vollering, and two seconds less on surprise package Rooijakkers, but her challenge looked in serious trouble when the gap to the leaders hit a minute.
But the Pole, aided by some rivals including Lidl-Trek's Lucinda Brand, clung onto the virtual lead before producing a rousing finish to one of the toughest days ever tackled by the women's peloton.
Vollering left Rooijakkers behind to take the stage as attention turned to Niewiadoma and the clock, with the yellow jersey coming home with just four seconds to spare to seal a famous win.
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Tears flow as Niewiadoma discovers she has won Tour de France Femmes
"It's so crazy," said Niewiadoma. "The whole stage was such a crazy rollercoaster.
"I had a really bad moment on Glandon and then on the descent I was able to rebuild myself, refresh, and I was so lucky to have Lucinda Brand. Canyon-SRAM has to say thank you to Trek because they did a great job also for us, bringing us closer to Demi and Pauliena.
"On Alpe d'Huez I knew that I just had to pace myself smart and give my best in the last five kilometres. To be honest, I lost the faith that I could still do it. And then on the radio they were screaming so much in the last two kilometres.
"To be honest, I've gone through such a terrible time on this climb, I hated everything! Then arriving at the finish line and learning that I won the Tour de France is insane. It's mind-blowing."
Vollering cut a frustrated figure as the gap to Niewiadoma hovered around the one-minute mark, with the defending champion pictured urging Rooijakkers, who was glued to her wheel, to take a pull on the front.
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'Getting a bit spicy' – Vollering taps rival Rooijakkers as strain shows
The 27-year-old fought back brilliantly from a crash on Stage 5, which saw her drop out of the race lead, but came up just short in Sunday's thrilling finale as Niewiadoma summoned one final push.
Reflecting on the moment she was dropped, Niewiadoma added: "I definitely lost my confidence. I felt terrible at that moment, mentally and physically. It wasn't easy.
"But then on the descent, all of a sudden I got my power. It sometimes happens when you crack, but then you just need a moment of relaxation and you get your power back.
"I just ate everything I had in my pockets, drunk a lot of fluid and then I was like: 'OK, I'm ready to go again'."
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Vollering wins final stage but Niewiadoma saves yellow in epic finish
The Tour de France Femmes may be over, but the cycling doesn't stop. Stream the Vuelta a Espana live on discovery+
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