Tour de France Femmes: Katarzyna Niewiadoma holds off Demi Vollering to win title

Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma claimed her first Tour de France Femmes title after holding off last year’s winner Demi Vollering, who won a dramatic final stage.

Niewiadoma, 29, finished fourth on the Alpe d’Huez and collapsed into tears as she realised she had done enough to retain her overall lead from the penultimate seventh stage by four seconds.

Pauliena Rooijakkers, of the Netherlands, came second on the stage and Evita Muzic, of France, finished third.

The Netherlands’ Vollering, who rides for SD Worx-Protime, began the day eighth overall and trailed Canyon–SRAM’s Niewiadoma by one minute and 15 seconds.

“It’s so crazy to be honest, the whole stage was such a crazy rollercoaster,” said an emotional Niewiadoma.

“I’ve gone through such a terrible time on this climb, like I hated everything. Then arriving at the finish line and learning that I won Tour de France… is insane. It’s so mind-blowing.”

Vollering proved her credentials as the pre-stage favourite to storm to victory on the 149.9km ride from Le Grand-Bornand to Alpe d’Huez, having to wait for the chasing pack.

Niewiadoma struggled on the final climb but recovered to finish one minute and one second behind Vollering.

Rooijakkers, meanwhile, finished third overall.

“Two weeks ago, I was so disappointed getting stuck behind a crash during the Olympics,” added Niewiadoma.

“I feel like this week, all the stars aligned for my team and for myself.”