Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney may have entered into La Vuelta Femenina with an eye to the podium and then set out to deliver a solid performance through the opening stages but it was always the final two days of climbing that were going to deliver the ultimate test. The first certainly didn’t go to plan.
After a tricky run in the Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto rider entered the final category 1 climb to Les Praeres – nearly four kilometres at an average gradient of 13.5% – well positioned in the dramatically reduced peloton. The 2024 Tour de France Femmes winner also kept up with the vicious pace of Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) early but then, with just under 3km to go, stage 6 took a turn for Niewiadoma-Phinney.
“The climb was just super steep. I mean, it’s hard to get any sort of cadence on that steep, steep climb,” said Niewiadoma-Phinney of the ascent which included sections with gradients rising to 20%.
So even though gaps that emerged on stage 6 put some in the box seat and others on the back foot, more than ever at this year’s La Vuelta Femenina, the race…
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