Walking through the mixed zone in Pau wearing her polka-dot jersey, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) had a relaxed smile on her face while answering the media’s questions. At first glance, her 2023 Tour de France Femmes did not go much better than the 2022 edition as the 28-year-old finished third overall again – but if you look closer, Niewiadoma closed the gap to the once-dominant Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar Team), won the mountain classification, and most of all, raced with panache, going hell for leather on the Col d’Aspin descent in a courageous bid for victory.
“It gave me amazing feelings to finish second on the Tourmalet, only behind Demi [Vollering]. After the Classics, I was doubting myself. I felt like I was working hard but somehow missing the top. I was not able to be the one that creates the final. That is never easy mentally. Being able to be in the front and not be caught straight away on the Tourmalet gave me extra motivation, strength and in some ways a ‘fuck ya’ feeling,” Niewiadoma was happy with her performance on the queen stage of the race.
