Everybody was anticipating Annemiek van Vleuten (Movistar) and Demi Vollering (SD Worx) to duke it out on the entrance of the sphere on the Col d’Aspin and Col du Tourmalet, however Kasia Niewiadoma inserted herself into the center of the stage 7 Tour de France Femmes battle and took full benefit of the duo’s intense rivalry. The top result’s that the Canyon-SRAM rider is heading into the ultimate stage second total.
Niewiadoma entered the queen stage in fifth spot within the battle for yellow and whereas the departure of the following rider up the outcomes checklist, Elisa Longo Borghini (Lidl-Trek), left her transferring up the standings to fourth earlier than a pedal stroke was turned, as soon as the race hit the climbs Niewiadoma instantly made it clear that her sights have been set greater. She supposed to earn a spot on the rostrum for a second 12 months working.
“I’m tremendous proud, tremendous joyful. It was an immense effort and never just for myself however from the entire crew,” mentioned Niewiadoma who initially launched on the Col d’Aspin ascent with Van Vleuten and Vollering however then distanced them on the descent because the video games between the pair started.
“As soon as I had a fast look behind me and I noticed that they have been taking a look at one another, and likewise on the climb on the Col d’Aspin Demi didn’t wish to work with us, so I knew that she wouldn’t work with Annemiek,” mentioned Niewiadoma.
The 2 outright favourites for yellow have been absorbed again right into a small group because of this and whereas Marlen Reusser (SD Worx) pulled again a piece of Niewiadoma’s buffer for her teammate the rider nonetheless began the Chilly du Tourmalet forward. She held on the entrance of the sphere proper till Vollering pulled previous within the ultimate 5 kilometres. Niewiadoma then took second on the road and within the GC, ending 36 seconds forward of Van Vleuten and including one other two seconds to her total benefit on the Movistar rider due to time bonuses.
Niewiadoma could also be properly on the highway to creating it onto these ultimate podium steps once more, however first she has to get by way of the ultimate time trial. It’s a self-discipline she has been engaged on in coaching after it grew to become clear to the 28-year-old that she wasn’t the place she had hoped to be. She got here tenth, greater than two minutes behind the stage winner, in June’s stage 2 particular person time trial on the Tour de Suisse.
“Positively that race made me realise that I had some homework to do,” mentioned Niewiadoma. “So along with my coach we spent, various days really, on a TT bike to the extent that I really feel comfy on it.”
The rider from Poland has Van Vleuten, a two-time world champion within the race towards the clock, simply 36 seconds behind her on the general rankings heading into the ultimate stage however Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (AG Insurance coverage-Soudal QuickStep) and a decided Juliette Labous (dsm-firmenich) are additionally inside a minute.
On the Tour de Suisse, when Niewiadoma final lined up towards the French dsm-firmenich rider, Labous completed a few spots and 4 seconds forward of the rider from Poland. Moolman-Pasio does not have any particular person time trial outcomes as a foundation for comparability this season however the final time the AG Insurance coverage rider lined up towards Niewiadoma in 2021 on the Ceratizit Problem by La Vuelta they have been fairly carefully matched within the brief time trial, with the Canyon-SRAM rider simply six seconds quicker over the 7.3km distance.
The gaps, nonetheless, get a lot wider when taking a look at nearest rival, Van Vleuten. The 2 have not gone face to face in a time trial just lately however again in 2021 at La Vuelta, Van Vleuten carved out an intimidating benefit of 1:20 in just a bit over seven kilometres.
However, on the ultimate 22.6 km time trial finale in Pau, there may be a lot at stake to drive Niewiadoma on and she or he will not be ready to surrender any spots with no combat.
“We’ll see tomorrow. I imply, I’ve good legs. I hope that I am not going to lose them in a single day,” mentioned Niewiadoma after stage 7. “I got here right here to combat for a podium, so I can’t let go of that.”