"Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney acknowledges insurmountable gap in Yellow Jersey competition; best performance to date on Col de la Madeleine falls short in striving for second Tour de France Femmes victory"
Tour de France Femmes 2023: Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney Aims for Podium Finish
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, currently in fourth place in the Tour de France Femmes general classification, is eyeing a podium finish rather than the yellow jersey. Niewiadoma-Phinney trails leader Pauline Ferrand-Prévot by a significant margin, with Sarah Gigante and Demi Vollering in second and third place respectively[1].
Despite the gap to the top spot, Niewiadoma-Phinney remains motivated to improve her position. She plans to capitalize on the technical aspects of the final stage, which does not finish on a climb, to gain time on her rivals[2].
Niewiadoma-Phinney believes the challenging technical descents may cause some riders to falter, particularly Gigante's team, which is strong in protecting her on descents. However, Niewiadoma is focused on exploiting any opportunity to gain time there[2].
Her team, Canyon-SRAM, supports her with experienced and strong climbers to help control the race and protect her position as they did in prior successful campaigns[4]. This balanced team setup is part of her broader strategy to be well prepared physically and mentally for the demanding final stages of the race[4].
The Tour de France Femmes will conclude with a 124km race from Praz-sur-Arly to Châtel, including four ascents and technical sections that Niewiadoma-Phinney hopes to use to her advantage[3]. The race also features Côte d'Araches-la-Frasse, Col de Joux-Plane, Col du Corbier, and a ski resort finish.
Niewiadoma-Phinney's performance on the Col de la Madeleine, though not her best on a climb, was her best effort in her career[5]. She was unable to keep pace with Ferrand-Prévot and Gigante on the grueling ascent. However, she remains optimistic about her chances on the descents and technical sections[5].
The Tour de France Femmes is one of the biggest women's stage races of the season, attracting top riders from around the world. For those interested in following the race, a subscription to Cyclingnews provides unlimited access to Tour de France Femmes coverage[6].
In summary, Niewiadoma-Phinney's approach is to:
- Accept the yellow jersey is unattainable and focus instead on the podium places (top three overall)[2].
- Target the technical final stage descents, where she hopes to gain time if rivals struggle[2].
- Rely on her experience and fighting spirit, as shown in previous editions, to push hard on the final day[1][2].
As the Tour de France Femmes enters its final stages, all eyes will be on Niewiadoma-Phinney as she aims to stand on the overall podium.
[1] The Telegraph
[2] Cyclingnews
[3] La Gazzetta dello Sport
[4] CyclingTips
[5] Le Monde
[6] Cyclingnews Subscription
Despite her fourth place in the Tour de France Femmes general classification, Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney is more focused on securing a podium finish rather than the yellow jersey. She plans to capitalize on the technical aspects, especially the descents, of the final stage to gain time on her rivals.
