'I lost the faith that I could still do it' - Kasia Niewiadoma conquers the ‘Mountain of Emotions’ for Tour de France Triumph
"I've gone through such a terrible time on this climb. I hated everything," shares the yellow jersey victor.
![Kasia Niewiadoma after winning Amstel Gold in 2024](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/fvhFPmR8qzx7Sv8pchW4bE-415-80.jpg)
As you approach the final bend of the iconic Alpe d’Huez, a south-facing plateau greets visitors with a ski lift embossed with the words “une montagne d’émotions” (a mountain of emotions) — an apt name for the events that unfolded on the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
In an absolute nail-biter of a showdown, Dutchwoman Demi Vollering (SD-Worx-Protime) won the stage, but Polish rider Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) went home in the yellow jersey, having won the Tour with a historically narrow margin of 4 seconds.
As the riders collapsed to the ground after reaching the mountain summit, the emotions ran freely, with tears of utter devastation for Vollering. The defending champion had lost the race lead after a crash in stage 5 and had come into the final stage trailing Niewiadoma by 1:15. Despite her efforts to recoup the last time with a tremendous ride up the Col du Glandon and the legendary Alpe d’Huez, she fell just short.
Unable to match Vollering’s pace, she watched as her rival, accompanied by Pauliena Rooijakker (Fenix-Deceuninck), rode into the virtual race lead. But Niewiadoma refused to give up. Through the valley and to the base of Alpe d’Huez, her strength gradually returned. Gritting her teeth, the 29-year-old clawed her way up the climb, determined to minimize the damage inflicted by the Dutch duo.
As Vollering crossed the finish line in first place, gobbling up the 10 bonus seconds in the process, the clock started ticking. Rooijakker followed closely, and then Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) was third across the line. Finally, Niewiadoma, using every ounce of energy left, stopped the clock at 1:01. She had done it—the yellow jersey was hers.
“Four seconds seem magical now,” Niewiadoma reflected in the post-race press conference. “But throughout the stage, I went through a rollercoaster of emotions.”
Niewiadoma had anticipated Vollering’s attack but felt her strength waning at the crucial moment.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
“It was terrible because the climb was very hard and I could feel that I am losing my legs, and then she attacked and so it wasn't ideal,” she recounted. “I just knew that I had to stay patient and keep my pace.”
Niewiadoma is no stranger to the podium, but the top step had eluded her for years. After her last General Classification win at the Women's Tour of Britain in 2019, it had taken five long years before she tasted victory again at La Flèche Wallonne this past April. She credits last fall’s UCI World Gravel Championships with breaking her streak of near-misses, reminding her what winning feels like and reigniting her confidence. After finishing third twice at the Tour de France Femmes, she came to the 2024 race determined to win. But doubt crept in with Vollering up the road and the metres running out.
“To be honest, once again, I lost the faith that I could still do it,” she admitted. “I've gone through such a terrible time on this climb. I hated everything. To be able to pull it off at the finish line with just a couple of seconds is a dream come true. It's going to take some time to let everything sink in.”
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Cycling Weekly's North American Editor, Anne-Marije Rook is old school. She holds a degree in journalism and started out as a newspaper reporter — in print! She can even be seen bringing a pen and notepad to the press conference.
Originally from The Netherlands, she grew up a bike commuter and didn't find bike racing until her early twenties when living in Seattle, Washington. Strengthened by the many miles spent darting around Seattle's hilly streets on a steel single speed, Rook's progression in the sport was a quick one. As she competed at the elite level, her journalism career followed, and soon she became a full-time cycling journalist. She's now been a cycling journalist for 11 years.
-
Can Remco Evenepoel stop Tadej Pogačar at the World Championships?
The Belgian will lead his nation in Switzerland in a fortnight, in the absence of Wout van Aert
By Adam Becket Published
-
UK in 'ongoing discussions' to host Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027
British Cycling and UK Sport supporting bid to bring race back
By Tom Davidson Published
-
A new era emerges: meet the rising talent that stole the show at the Tour de France Femmes
A familiar face may have won the race, but rising stars shone brightest. Here are the names you'll want to remember in the seasons ahead.
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Niewiadoma claims 2024 Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey in nail-biting battle with Vollering on Alpe d'Huez
Vollering wins the stage, but comes up just short to win the race overall. Rooijakkers second, Muzic third.
By Dan Challis Published
-
'1:15 isn't much' - SD Worx confident in Demi Vollering for grand finale on Alpe d'Huez
Eyes turn to Alpe d’Huez showdown as GC battle stalls on Le Grand-Bornand
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Polka Dot jersey Justine Ghekiere conquers Tour de France Femmes stage 7 as Niewiadoma holds onto yellow
Belgian victorious from breakaway, Vollering and Niewiadoma in stalemate in first Alpine battle
By Dan Challis Published
-
Who's won the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift?
The full general classification, along with the latest stage result, and the standings for the other jerseys
By Cycling Weekly Published
-
Cédrine Kerbaol powers to stage six win at Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, the first ever French victory
Kasia Niewiadoma maintained her lead in the yellow jersey on an action-filled day in north-east France
By Adam Becket Published
-
British champion Pfeiffer Georgi fractures neck in Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift crash
The dsm-firmenich PostNL rider came down in the same crash which saw Demi Vollering hit the deck
By Adam Becket Published
-
Demi Vollering hurt but likely to continue Tour de France Femmes after bad crash
"We have to wait and see how it feels tomorrow morning. But I assume I will be able to continue the Tour tomorrow," says the race favourite
By Anne-Marije Rook Published