Kasia Niewiadoma’s long-anticipated triumph at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, after numerous setbacks in previous key races, was indeed a satisfying one. The win, established late in the day amidst an Alpine sunset, dethroned previous champ, Demi Vollering by a mere four seconds.
Niewiadoma’s achievement was historic as it registered the smallest winning gap in Grand Tour racing. During this season, one dominant cyclist, Tadej Pogacar had the monopoly of the men’s category. On the other hand, three different cyclists had claimed the laurels in the Vuelta, Giro, and Tour women’s divisions, each being a closely contested battle.
In the past, when the Tour Femmes was not as prominent, the consensus was that the women’s group wouldn’t be able to produce the thrilling battles observed in recent races. Today, it’s pivotal for the Tour Femmes to evolve from the captivating rivalry between Canyon-Sram lead, Niewiadoma, and her SD Worx Protime adversary, Vollering, as well as the other contestants.
In contrast to Pogacar’s sizable victories, the Vuelta Feminina saw Vollering win by a scanty 1:49, and the women’s Giro d’Italia saw Elisa Longo Borghini of Lidl-Trek surpass Lotte Kopecky, Vollering’s teammate, by a mere 21 seconds.
The climax came on Sunday’s nail-biting high-altitude ending where the fate of the yellow jersey remained uncertain until the very end of the race. Lizzie Deignan, British team-mate of Longo Borghini, commended Alpe d’Huez as a vivid display of their top climbers and GC cyclists, “The end game of the race was utterly fierce.”
A disappointed 27-year-old Vollering described her emotions post-race as “bitter.” Considering the inadequacy of the support she received from her team, this is understandable. A crash just before the stage finish in Amneville, which cost her the yellow jersey, was the triggering incident for this bitterness.
Vollering didn’t fully recuperate and frequently found herself forsaken by her own squad. Rather than providing support, her fellow racers often either forged ahead to pursue their individual goals, or lagged behind, making desperate efforts to keep pace. Unfortunately, this often left the visibly hurt reigning champion completely alone.
Sadly, Vollering mentioned that “[Her] inability to win the yellow jersey due to the accident is a sombre thought but it’s an integral part of cycling. It’s disheartening that this has to be the differentiating factor here.”
Meanwhile, 2019’s Tour of Britain women’s champion, Niewiadoma, achieved a remarkable feat, despite almost giving up during the gruelling Alpe d’Huez climb.
“I had almost lost all hope of making it,” she admitted on Sunday evening. “The ascent proved to be especially harrowing.”
The thrilling climax of the race that saw Niewiadoma’s victory by a mere four seconds is set to boost the global appeal of the race. However, there are still areas that need addressing.
The turn-out along the Alpe climb, infamous for its rowdy fans, was disappointingly small and muted. Furthermore, the TV broadcasting of each stage was limited, the inter-stage commuting was excessively lengthy, and the addition of a split stage in Holland, combining a trial and a stage on the same day, was deemed superfluous.
When it comes to the fiscal aspects, the men’s Tour offers a total prize of 2.4 million euros, with Pogacar himself earning 500,000 euros. In contrast, the women’s race offers prizes totalling just shy of 247,000 euros, with Niewiadoma receiving only 50,000 euros.
Out of the original 153 racers, only 110 managed to reach the Alpe finish line. However, the display of mutual support and unity amongst the riders was apparent. Many of them finished the race in tears of exhaustion, welcoming their competitors with dignified embraces. Canada’s Alison Jackon, however, stood out, as she managed to finish the gruelling race whilst enjoying a burger.
The contest has undeniably piqued general interest,” remarked Deignan. “It’s my earnest wish that the Tour keeps expanding, whether by augmenting its duration, ensuring each phase is aired uninterrupted, or merely drawing larger audiences annually. I firmly believe that we’ve more than demonstrated our worthiness for such.”
Niewiadoma expressed herself more straightforwardly. “We’ve all scripted history this week,” she pointed out, referring to the ordeal the peloton had undergone. “And that’s something we can be justly proud of.” – Guardian