Kasia Niewiadoma’s nail-biting success in the Tour de France Femmes on Sunday was long-awaited and wholly deserved, and came after countless near misses in other major races. The Polish rider’s thrilling victory, late on an Alpine afternoon as a chilly sunset enveloped Alpe d’Huez, came at the expense of a crestfallen Demi Vollering. The defending champion lost her title by four seconds.
It was the narrowest margin of victory in the history of Grand Tour racing and came during a season when men’s racing has been monopolised by one dominant rider, Tadej Pogacar. The women’s Vuelta, Giro and Tour have been won by three riders and by narrow margins.
