Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney left stage five of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift smiling, despite finishing third.
The Canyon-SRAM leader came agonisingly close to a stage win in Belleville-en-Beaujolais. Her long sprint began around 400 metres from the line and briefly put Marlen Reusser and Demi Vollering under pressure.
Vollering, riding for FDJ United-Suez, came past inside the final 25 metres to take the victory. Reusser, of Movistar, also finished ahead of Niewiadoma-Phinney, who still treated the result as a major step forward.
At the Canyon-SRAM bus, she exchanged hugs and high fives after a stage packed with attacks. Her first reaction captured both the frustration and the optimism: “Almost!”
Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney back in the GC fight
The result lifted Niewiadoma-Phinney to third overall, 1:17 behind Swiss race leader Reusser. Vollering remains firmly in the yellow jersey battle, making the race look like a three-rider contest.
The 2024 Tour de France Femmes winner said she still dreams of taking yellow again. She called the jersey the main objective, while stressing that Canyon-SRAM came to race aggressively.
“There are no regrets,” Niewiadoma-Phinney said at the finish. She said she had given everything and saw nothing she should have done differently.
Her sprint was not improvised. A previous recon in south-eastern France showed her the final corner offered an opening. Rather than wait for the final 200 metres, she chose to strike early.
Niewiadoma-Phinney said Vollering’s speed made a conventional sprint too risky. She wanted to use surprise, commitment and aerodynamics instead.
She also credited advice from husband Taylor Phinney. When they sprint together, he reminds her to stay aero, she said.
Canyon-SRAM gain tactical options
The Beaujolais stage delivered constant movement across rolling roads and vineyard climbs. Riders faced 2,900 metres of elevation and intense heat throughout the day.
Niewiadoma-Phinney admitted she felt some stress when a 19-rider breakaway went clear mid-stage. That move included Canyon-SRAM teammate Antonia Niedermaier, which soon gave the team a strong position.
Once FDJ United-Suez began chasing, Niewiadoma-Phinney could sit in while Niedermaier stayed ahead. The race then exploded on the Col de Durbize, the penultimate climb.
On Mont Brouilly, Niewiadoma-Phinney helped force the decisive selection with Reusser and Vollering. Behind them, Niedermaier held firm in the chasing group.
The German moved up to fourth overall and took the white jersey as best young rider. Niewiadoma-Phinney said Canyon-SRAM can use that situation tactically in the coming days.
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot endured a costly day among the general classification contenders. She lost contact after the attack with 31 kilometres remaining and later said she had “no excuses.”
Niewiadoma-Phinney said defending this race brings unusual pressure. She said riders must invest more each year to stay in podium contention.
The Tour now heads toward its decisive mountain tests. Mont Ventoux looms on stage seven and could create larger gaps among the favourites.
Still, Niewiadoma-Phinney warned that the race will not end there. She expects difficult stages all the way to Nice, with no easy run-in to the finish.
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