Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma wins the 2024 edition by 4 seconds – Libération

2024-08-18 16:49:40

The defending champion, Dutchwoman Demi Vollering, was first on Sunday, August 18 at the summit of the Alpes d’Huez. But she finished behind Katarzyna Niewiadoma in the general classification.

A surprising and suspenseful ending. Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma won the women’s Tour de France, at the end of the 8th stage and the final of the Grande Boucle on Sunday, August 18. She won by only 4 seconds in the general classification, despite the stage victory of the Dutchwoman Demi Vollering , the defending champion and who was first in the summit of the Alpes d’Huez. The Dutch Pauliena Rooijakkers completed the podium, ahead of the French Evita Muzic, 4th.

Katarzyna Niewiadoma, 29, came third in the previous two editions of the Women’s Grande Boucle. Demi Vollering, who was 1 minute 15 seconds behind the Polish yellow jersey at the start of the stage, made his effort by attacking more than 50 kilometers from the finish in the ascent of the Col du Glandon, classified in the category. But when he arrived at Alpe d’Huez, he was four seconds short of the double. After crossing the line, both runners broke down in tears, one in joy, the other in distress.

At the starting line this Sunday, if Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma is still wearing the yellow, she also knows that “The gaps are close between the contenders for victory” etc “that they are not very represented in the mountains”. Canyon-SRAM Racing team climber, 3rd of the two previous guides, only a short lead over his great rival, Demi Vollering (8th), the defending champion who fell on Thursday, losing almost two minutes in the adventure.

The two great favorites of this third Grande Boucle since the rebirth of the event in 2022 cannot, however, see each other too much, because the potential rivals are numerous and close in positions.

The Dutch lady Puck Pieterse, the manifestation of this 2024 edition, is only 27 seconds from the leader, just ahead of the French nugget Cédrine Kerbaol (3rd in 37 seconds), won on Friday in Morteau.

Juliette Labous was ambushed in 4th place one minute away and stayed “impatient” THE”high bones » on Sunday and 3,900 meters of good altitude difference offered to the runners. Just like his teammate Evita Muzic (9th at 1’25′’) who “appreciate high stakes” Glandon and especially Alpe d’Huez, at the top of the 21 bends of the legendary pass where the final victory took place.