Tour de France Femmes 2024: Vollering wins in Alpe dHuez, Niewiadoma clinches narrow GC triumph

Tour de France Femmes 2024: Vollering wins in Alpe d’Huez, Niewiadoma clinches narrow GC triumph

foto: Cor VosDemi Vollering attacks on the Glandon. Pauliena Rooijakkers follows, while yellow jersey Kasia Niewiadoma struggles to keep up. A thrilling battle of seconds unfolds on the final climb to Alpe d'Huez. Vollering takes the stage win, but Niewiadoma secures the overall victory by 4 seconds. (Slideshow route/profile)

Results 8th stage 2024 Tour de France

1. Demi Vollering (nld)
2. Pauliena Rooijakkers (nld) + 0.04
3. Évita Muzic (fra) + 1.01
4. Kasia Niewiadoma (pol) s.t.
5. Gaia Realini (ita) + 1.31
6. Cédrine Kerbaol (fra) + 3.15
7. Valentina Cavallar (fra) + 3.34
8. Sarah Gigante (aus) + 5.10
9. Niamh-Fisher Black (nzl) + 5.14
10. Lucinda Brand (nld) + 7.06

Final GC 2024 Tour de France Femmes

1. Kasia Niewiadoma (pol)
2. Demi Vollering (nld) + 0.04
3. Pauliena Rooijakkers (nld) + 0.10
4. Évita Muzic (fra) + 1.21
5. Gaia Realini (ita) + 2.19
6. Cédrine Kerbaol (fra) + 2.51
7. Sarah Gigante (aus) + 7.09
8. Lucinda Brand (nld) + 8.06
9. Juliette Labous (fra) + 8.07
10. Thalita de Jong (nld) + 8.12

Race report
Queen of the Mountains Justine Ghekiere initiates the breakaway with Mischa Bredewold, Christine Majerus, Blanka Vas, Lorena Wiebes, Franziska Koch, Lucinda Brand, and Fem van Empel before Loes Adegeest, Riejanne Markus, Silke Smulders, Alice Maria Arzuffi, Kristen Faulkner, Noemi Rüegg, Liane Lippert, Olivia Baril, Silvia Persico, Erica Magnaldi, Marthe Truyen, Camille Fahy, Célia Le Mouel, Katrine Aalreud, and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad bridge across on the Col de Tamié.

Truyen can’t follow the pace, while the others open up a lead of almost 3 minutes. Ghekiere cements her QOM lead at the Tamié.

The gap is down to 2 minutes when the break hits the Col du Glandon. Brand heads out with Adegeest, Smulders, Arzuffi, Lippert, Magnaldi, and Aalerud on her wheel, while Valentina Cavallar rejoins them inside the last 6 kilometres. The peloton is also close behind, which inspires Cavallar to continue on her own.

The chasers are joined by Demi Vollering, Niamh Fisher-Black, Kasoa Niewiadoma, Gaia Realini, Sarah Gigante, Évita Muzic, Puck Pieterse, and Pauliena Rooijakkers.

Vollering accelerates with 3 kilometres to go to the top. Rooijakkers follows her move, but yellow jersey Niewiadoma is dropped. The two catch Cavallar.

Yellow jersey Niewiadoma crests the Glandon 55 seconds behind the attackers, while Cavallar loses contact in the descent.

Initially, the gap with the Niewiadoma group grows to 1.25 minutes, but by the base of the final climb, it has shrunk to 45 seconds. It stays at that level for the first few kilometers, but then Vollering and Rooijakkers start to pull away again. However, the gap stops growing and even begins to close, leading to a thrilling battle of seconds.

In the last 4 kilometers, the Polish rider reduces her deficit to 45 seconds, but then it starts to go out again. In the final few hundred meters, defending champion Vollering goes all-in. She wins the stage, but falls just short of renewing her title.

Niewiadoma crosses the line in fourth place, 1 minute and 1 second later. She wins the Tour de France Femmes with a 4 seconds lead over Vollering and 10 seconds over Rooijakkers.

Another interesting read: route 8th stage 2024 Tour de France Femmes.