SILVER FOR KASIA IN THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIP

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney finished her 2025 season on a high after claiming a silver medal in yesterday’s European Road Championships, in Drôme-Ardéche, France.

Tipped as a spicy parcours, the 116 km race lived up to expectations. After one hour of racing, a three-rider moved went ahead, but it lasted only 30 km before the reduced peloton caught up. Germany’s Antonia Neidermaier and Ricarda Bauernfeind, and Italy’s Soraya Paladin were active in the first part of the race. As the intensity rose, it was Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka’s turn to support her Polish teammate, Kasia. On the main climb of the day, the 7 km-long Côte de Saint-Romain-de-Lerps, the peloton split further with Kasia, Antonia and Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (DEN) holding strong. The first attack by Demi Vollering (NED), created an elite group of four leaders, including Kasia. Soon after, the Dutch rider made her winning attack before the climb’s summit, and while only Longo Borghini (ITA) could briefly match it, her presence was short-lived, later paying the price and dropping to tenth place.

Kasia devotedly chased for the next 39 km, with another Dutch rider, Van der Breggen, stuck to her wheel for the remainder of the race. Antonia’s group came within a minute of medal contention but the gap expanded and she eventually finished in a highly respectable eighth place.

Despite several appearances on the front of the peloton on the climbs, Antonia cleverly covered the fact that she was not feeling well:

“Unfortunately, I was feeling sick in the race and my body was telling me it was too much. I’m happy that I could help my teammate (Koch), especially on the flat. But that was all I could do today.”

For Kasia, it was her third medal at the European Road Championships after a bronze medal in 2020 and a silver medal in 2016. Notably, all her medals have been won when the championships have been held in France.

“It’s nice to end up with a medal. The hopes were higher. I admit that Demi gave a brutal attack, and now I would say I’m a bit angry at myself because at the moment I gave up mentally, and allowed myself to sit on Anna’s wheel rather than trying to go and see what happens. I ended up chasing for a long time which wasn’t ideal, but she was strong. After the first attack to create our group of four, I took a moment, which is exactly when I needed to be sharper in my mind to think of, and be ready for, the next move. I have to accept my mistake. In the finish, Anna acknowledged my hard chase for almost 40 km and didn’t contest the sprint for silver.”

“I was happy to see my Polish teammates cheering for me in the crowd while I was on the podium. They committed to my race and I’m pleased to have a medal to reward their work. It’s my last race of the season. Overall, I didn’t have my best season, but I know that can happen in cycling. It gives me motivation for the winter and for the 2026 season, but first I’m going to enjoy a short holiday and some time to party.”