Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney from Poland has surged to the forefront of the Tour de France Femmes following an impressive ascent in the seventh stage of the competition.
Despite triumphing in the 2024 edition of the race, Niewiadoma-Phinney had not previously secured a stage victory until now. With two stages remaining, the upcoming leg is expected to favor the sprinters.
In a remarkable display of strength, Niewiadoma-Phinney executed a pivotal attack on Mont Ventoux, capturing the stage win and overtaking Marlen Reusser for the overall lead. Overcome with emotion, she donned the yellow jersey, now holding a 15-second advantage over 2023 champion Demi Vollering and a 39-second lead over Reusser.
“I am absolutely exhausted and still in shock over what just occurred,” Niewiadoma-Phinney expressed. “As I began my climb, I spotted my parents unexpectedly cheering for me on the sidelines. I saw my father shouting my name, and I felt a strong urge to make him proud.”
Approximately 9 kilometers from the summit of Ventoux, Niewiadoma-Phinney pulled ahead, leaving both Reusser and Vollering unable to keep pace. The ascent to Ventoux is notorious in cycling for its challenging terrain and strikingly barren landscape.
This stage marked Niewiadoma-Phinney’s first-ever Tour stage win, despite her previous overall victory in 2024 without a single stage win. Battling fatigue, she crossed the finish line with her arms raised in triumph, though she nearly lost her balance and required assistance to dismount her bike. Shortly thereafter, she joyfully cooled herself down with water while seated on the roadside.
“I don’t pursue victories merely for the sake of winning; I aim for them because of the incredible feeling I’m experiencing right now,” she remarked. “I had previously visited Mont Ventoux with friends and my husband, riding up the climb three times. The exhilaration of reaching the summit was unforgettable, and I yearned to relive that joy, feeling as carefree as a child.”
In the latter part of the 15.7-kilometer climb, Vollering managed to outpace Reusser, a world time trial champion, who, despite her efforts, lost crucial time in the overall standings. She finished the stage in fourth place, trailing both Vollering and Italian cyclist Elisa Longo Borghini, a two-time Giro d’Italia champion.
The route to Ventoux included three smaller ascents leading up to the Hors Catégorie climb, which has a steep gradient of nearly 9 percent. Vollering was the first to break away, with Niewiadoma-Phinney and Reusser quickly joining her as others fell behind. Niewiadoma-Phinney’s decisive attack proved too powerful for Vollering, who attempted to close the gap but was ultimately unable to keep pace.
“My strategy was to reach Chalet Reynard solo,” Niewiadoma-Phinney noted. “I knew the headwind would be significant from that point, and the others would try to draft off one another for as long as they could.”
The upcoming eighth stage is a flat 172-kilometer course designed for sprinters, concluding in Nice, with a challenging mountain stage set for Sunday night. The ninth stage will feature four steep climbs at Col d’Èze, located in the hills above Monaco.
Two years prior, Niewiadoma-Phinney triumphed over Vollering in the final stage, clinching the overall victory by a mere four seconds.
