27.07.2025 World-Tour, News, Race news

KASIA ON THE FRONT FOOT WITH 4TH IN TOUR DE FRANCE FEMMES AVEC ZWIFT OPENER

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney launched her 2025 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift campaign with a fantastic fourth-place finish on a sharp, intense 78km stage from the Grand Départ town of Vannes.

The uphill arrivée in Plumelec saw riders scattered across the results sheet, with it hard to say whether the number of time gaps was expected or surprisingly large. Kasia crossed the line on the same time as stage winner and first yellow jersey wearer Vos (TVL), while Vollering (FDJ) in fifth was put on three seconds. By eighth, the gap had already extended out to nine.

The race finished atop the Côte de Cadoudal (1.8km at 6%), preceded by narrow, twisty roads that meant both technical skill and climbing strength were paramount. Kasia’s top-five finish confirmed she was exceptional in both.

Reflecting on the final kilometre when a reduced peloton was still intact, Kasia described how Ferrand-Prévot (TVL) ramped up the pace with 600m to go:

“It was super weird and kind of funny because everyone was waiting for one team to take the lead, but no one was really in charge. Then Pauline [Ferrand-Prevot] was in front and she accelerated. It wasn’t even like an attack. The gap opened because Marianne [Vos] was near her wheel, and she stopped. Then, Van der Breggen tried to close the gap but pulled off all of a sudden, so I was like, ‘Ah sh*t, nobody wants to do it.’ It was almost too late to really react. I was then waiting for a sprinter to start sprinting, but that never happened.”

Kasia later realised she hadn’t fully grasped the extent of the damage caused by Ferrand-Prévot’s surge. The bunch had stretched into single file, with gaps opening between wheels at every pedal stroke. There were no sprinters or sprint teams to stitch things back together.

“Yeah, I think maybe that was a mistake. I wasn’t even looking back – I was just expecting more people to come from behind.”

Despite that, Kasia was pleased to show herself so strongly from the very outset of the tour — a sign that the right steps have been followed and she’s arrived in scintillating form for the season’s biggest race. Still, she couldn’t help but wonder what might have been possible with a change in tact.

“I feel good, but I’m also kind of annoyed, thinking about how things ended up. I guess it was the first stage and day-by-day we’ll see how everyone feels, but I feel like if we had a different approach, we could have gotten better results today.”

After tonight’s late finish at 19:15, there’s little time to dwell on the opener. Sunday’s stage, following a long two-hour transfer and a lunchtime start, brings another opportunity in Bretagne. It’s a longer albeit still snappy 110km route packed with over 2000m of elevation on the punchy, technical roads so typical of the region. And, if today is anything to go by, it’s another chance for Kasia to be right in the mix.

It’s the kind of parcours, and occasion, that Kasia is now fully comfortable with.

“It was hectic, but something we all expected and were mentally prepared for – it was a short first stage, and everyone wants to show themselves. So yeah, it’s just part of current racing now.”

HOW TO FOLLOW

Live coverage is available via Eurosport, Discovery Plus, TNT Sports, FloBikes, SBS Sport, France 3, and many other regional broadcasters. Stay updated on X with #TDFF2025 and #WatchTheFemmes, and follow CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto on social media for the latest team updates.

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