It all started on the Col du Glandon with 54 kilometres to go, when Demi Vollering launched the attack from afar to reopen the Tour de France Women's cyclingThe 1'15" delay didn't allow her to wait too long, and that's why Pauliene Rooijakkers, also 1'13" behind, was glued to her wheel. It was an eternity, at the head of a Tour of almost a thousand kilometers. Yet everything is decided in the last two kilometers of the Alpe d'Huez, at the head of two parallel climbsIn front is the one of the two Dutch women, behind that of Kasia Niewiadoma in the yellow jersey, with Gaia Realini and Evita Muzic. The two in front, attacking the yellow jerseyThe two behind, who unwittingly helped her contain the gap, are attacking for a better final placing.
The Alps suddenly become bare
The Alps without its fans is a strange place. Or perhaps it should be said that it's strange, on that one day when it happens, to see hundreds of thousands of happy, tipsy people on a mountain road. The women's Alp is silent and severeThis doesn't mean there wasn't an audience, because there were people, especially at the top. But the road is wide and the effort seems to be carved with greater depth on the girls' faces.The motorbike manages to frame them up close and from the side, not just from behind or from the front as when there are lines of crowds that create colour and above all fear.
Vollering in front gives the feeling of being able to turn the conversation around. Eat a gel. His breathing is synchronized with his pedaling and his gaze is fixed in front, but more likely towards a reference point within himself.Yet between the eighth and seventh kilometer to the finish, Niewiadoma reversed the trend and began to climb with his hands underneath, in a gesture from which only Pantani and sometimes Bartoli managed to draw winning speed. And slowly the advantage, which for a couple of kilometers virtually dressed the attackers in yellow, returns below the warning level. Last year everything was decided on the Tourmalet, when Vollering took the jersey off his teammate Kopecky. The feeling is that Niewiadoma has found a way to keep the demons of fear and defeat at bay..
«It was a real roller coaster of emotions – says the Polish woman – since Demi attacked on the Glandon and I feared I had reached the breaking pointI felt like my legs weren't pushing anymore, I thought it was all fake. Instead, on the descent I managed to rebuild myself, refresh myself and I was really lucky to have Lucinda Brand in my same group. I think I will also have to thank the Lidl Trek because they did a great job for me too…».
A blow to bad luck
Alpe d'Huez will sort everything out, you'll see Demi. La outgoing Tour winner he continues to push forward with his composed and powerful pace, which seems to give no escape to the Polish rider behind her, who is indeed standing on the pedals, but seems to be riding more agile. In reality, Niewiadoma is using her head more than the Dutchman. He asks for changes to Realini and Muzic, while Vollering does it himself up frontShe quickly realized that her compatriot Rooijakkers has the same goal as her (and two seconds less to make up in the standings) and will certainly not lend her a hand. Demi pushes powerfully and confidently, but digs into her reserve tank.
Bad luck did not spare her. With six minutes to go until the arrival of Ferragosto, the fall took her away from the top positions in the standingsShe was left alone, the team cars weren't there and she couldn't take the bike from a companion.
Behind his back, Niewiadoma, on the other hand, clearly felt he had the opportunity to make up for his many second places. and the bad luck that hasn't spared her any blows over the years. Then, with 2 kilometers to go, she saw her husband Taylor Phinney running alongside her – that of BMC and the three track world championships and the two time trial championships – the forces have multiplied.
«On Alpe d'Huez – he says – I knew I just had to pace myself well, so I could give my all in the last 5 kilometers and minimize the gapTo be honest, I lost confidence again. In the last 2 kilometers, the radio was screaming so loudly that I couldn't understand anything. It was crazy. I had a terrible time on this last climbI hated everything, until I got to the finish line and found out I had won the Tour de France, which is crazy!
For four seconds
Demi Vollering conquered Alpe d'Huez. She crossed the finish line with a grin and fingers to her head, then let herself be pushed forwardShe had her bike taken from under her and lay down on the road to catch her breath. When Niewiadoma arrived, her staff at the finish line were counting the seconds with their hands. And when she crossed the finish line, To be safe they counted again and realized that the Tour was won by 4 secondsAnd when they told Kasia, who was on the ground, stunned and unaware of everything, tears began to flow freely down her face.
At the same time, Much more bitter tears began to shake Demi Vollering's chest.You can go crazy knowing you've lost a Tour de France by 4 seconds, like poor Fignon did in 1989, when he lost by 8. But you can also go crazy with joy knowing you won it by such a small margin. This is what happened to Greg Lemond in the same year and this is what happens to Kasia Niewiadoma, who raises her bike to the sky and laughs and can't contain her excitement.
«It's so incredible – he says – because there are so many people I am grateful and thankful forStarting with my husband, my family, the whole team. My coach, who worked so hard to prepare me for this. And my friends! This victory is dedicated to all the people who contributed to the victory!
In 2024, fortunes have definitely changed. She had noticed it and we immediately followed when she the Mur d'Huy was leveled, but now an unequivocal confirmation has arrivedThe second-place finishes continued to chase her, and even the sprint she lost on Alpe d'Huez confirmed what has historically been her weak point. But this time he won't make a drama out of it.Wearing her yellow jersey, she will certainly find a way to make sense of it.
