Kasia Niewiadoma secured the general classification podium at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift with a stellar time trial performance today in Pau. Kasia finished off a brilliant eight days for CANYON//SRAM Racing. Niewiadoma was third in the general classification, with teammate Ricarda Bauernfeind finishing ninth. Kasia also won the polka dot jersey for best rider in the mountain classification.

Ninth in the 22.6km individual time trial final stage was enough to give Kasia third place in the general classification, just two-tenths of a second from retaining the second place which she had blazed into on the queen stage a day earlier.

Throughout the eight days of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, those watching the race roadside or with the global broadcast were entertained with animated racing and nail-biting finishes. CANYON//SRAM Racing was awarded the Most Combative Rider three times, on stage five with Ricarda Bauernfeind, Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka on stage six, and Kasia Niewiadoma on stage seven. Bauernfeind stormed to a dazzling stage victory in Albi after the tour’s halfway point. Soraya Paladin was ever-consistent against the world’s best sprinters, sprinting into the top ten on no less than three occasions, including twice fifth. CANYON//SRAM Racing finished second in the team classification. A staggering performance from all riders and staff. The tour was won overall by Demi Vollering (SDW).

RIDER REACTIONS

Kasia Niewiadoma: “I’m very proud of myself and my team to be on the GC podium. It’s a reward for the hard work and commitment of everyone on the team. We’re definitely going to celebrate it!”

“The time trial was a hard course, and I gave everything. I enjoyed the first part more than the second half, where finding my rhythm was harder. But I am super happy to have a strong TT and bring the GC podium home to the team!”

“To move out of second place, it’s disappointing, but at the same time, I’m very happy to be on the GC podium. I’m really pleased with my race on stage seven on the Tourmalet to move onto the podium and then to keep it after a TT, which isn’t my speciality.”

“Sometimes you forget during a long stage race that the difference could be less than a fraction of a second. I think no one considered Kopecky a GC contender, so she was allowed to go and get extra seconds, and then she became a GC threat herself.”

“Our team’s ambitions were high before the race. We aimed to win a stage, GC podium and team classification. Ricarda got a stage win, I could get the GC podium, and we finished second in the team classification. We didn’t aim for the mountain jersey, but we won it. So, we’re very pleased and proud of our results!”

Ricarda Bauernfeind: “I‘m still getting goosebumps when I think about my stage win. Before starting the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, I knew it would be a special week because of this special race. It turned out to be one of the best ones I‘ve ever had. Not only my stage win makes it unforgettable, but also the team spirit, how everyone worked together, and what we achieved. When you see the team celebrating, and everyone hugs each other… these are the moments where you realise that fighting through every hard day or moment it’s worth it! Finishing ninth in GC is something I‘ve never had in my mind before. It’s just incredible.”

Several riders from CANYON//SRAM Racing and CANYON//SRAM Generation will now turn preparations towards the UCI Cycling World Championships in Glasgow that start on 3 August 2023.

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