Katarzyna Niewiadoma’s triumph at the Women’s Tour de France was a testament to her resilience and determination. The Polish rider, representing Canyon-SRAM Racing, emerged victorious by a mere four seconds, the narrowest margin in the event’s history.
Niewiadoma’s victory was hard-fought, as she faced a formidable challenge from reigning champion Demi Vollering of the Netherlands. The final stage, culminating on the grueling Alpe d’Huez, saw Vollering secure a stage win and close in on Niewiadoma’s lead. However, Niewiadoma held on to her advantage, maintaining a four-second gap at the finish line.
The race was marked by dramatic events, including a significant crash involving Vollering in the fifth stage. Despite losing crucial time, Vollering mounted an impressive comeback, reducing the gap to just over a minute by the final stage.
During the last 150 km stretch, Vollering made a strong push, briefly overtaking Niewiadoma while climbing the Col du Glandon. Niewiadoma, however, regrouped in the final 5 km, regaining enough time to maintain her overall lead.
Niewiadoma’s victory was particularly significant given her previous near-misses in the race. She had placed third in the previous two editions and endured a disappointing eighth-place finish in the 2024 Olympic road race.
“This is one of the greatest achievements in Polish sport,” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “Bad luck at the Olympics, now a bit of luck, but above all skill.”
Niewiadoma’s win makes her the third different winner in as many editions of the Women’s Tour de France. She completed the eight-stage Tour with a total time of 24 hours, 36 minutes, and 7 seconds, narrowly ahead of Vollering. Pauliena Rooijakkers of the Netherlands finished third, just six seconds behind Vollering.
“I went through such a terrible time on that climb,” said Niewiadoma. “I hated everything, and then, getting to the finish line and realizing I’d won the Tour de France was just crazy! It’s overwhelming.”
