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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.<\/b><\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Pauliena Rooijakkers, of the Netherlands, came second on the stage and Evita Muzic, of France, finished third.<\/p>\n
The Netherlands’ Vollering, who rides for SD Worx-Protime, began the day eighth overall and trailed Canyon\u2013SRAM’s Niewiadoma by one minute and 15 seconds.<\/p>\n
“It’s so crazy to be honest, the whole stage was such a crazy rollercoaster,” said an emotional Niewiadoma.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Niewiadoma struggled on the final climb but recovered to finish one minute and one second behind Vollering.<\/p>\n
Rooijakkers, meanwhile, finished third overall. <\/p>\n
“Two weeks ago, I was so disappointed getting stuck behind a crash during the Olympics,” added Niewiadoma.<\/p>\n
“I feel like this week, all the stars aligned for my team and for myself.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n