Kasia Niewiadoma Snags Historic Tour de France Victory with Epic Alpe d'Huez Triumph

Not only was the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift a fantastic showcase of the thrilling and competitive spirit of women's cycling, it was a testament to the tension, excitement, and top-tier competition that defines the Women’s WorldTour today.   

With dramatic finishes, strategic battles, and exceptional athleticism on display, it highlighted the incredible skill and endurance of the riders and the undeniable appeal of women's races. It is more than just a race; it's a celebration of progress, passion and potential, offering fans around the world a truly unforgettable sporting experience.  

Kasia Niewiadoma's victory was a true team triumph, underpinned by the unwavering support of her CANYON//SRAM Racing teammates, propelled by the new Canyon Aeroad.   

While Kasia’s individual brilliance was on full display in the heart-stopping finale at Alpe d’Huez, it was the collective strength and dedication of her team that laid the foundation for her success. Throughout the race, her teammates Agnieszka Skalniak-Sójka, Alice Towers, Neve Bradbury, Chloé Dygert, and Soraya Paladin played pivotal roles, particularly after Elise Chabbey's unfortunate withdrawal following a crash. Their relentless efforts ensured that Kasia remained in contention and protected her lead. Under immense pressure, she fought tooth and nail to maintain the yellow jersey, finishing just four seconds ahead of Vollering. Kasia is a prime example of a top-tier female athlete, combining skill, endurance, and sheer determination and an embodiment of Canyon//SRAM Racing philosophy of ‘race aggressive.’ 

To understand how the culture of speed is pushed forward within theCanyon//SRAM Racing team, and how the working relationship between team and bike manufacturer leads to better, faster bikes read more here.  

Kasia’s journey to this historic win has been marked by both triumphs and challenges. Over the years, she has consistently been one of the most formidable riders in the peloton, but recent seasons have been a rollercoaster. Setbacks tested her resilience, but each time, she came back stronger. Her 2024 season, leading up to the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, saw her rediscover her best form, culminating in this crowning achievement. Her victory is a testament to her talent and perseverance, making her a true role model in women's cycling.  

“In racing, you need good legs and to race smartly, but you also need things to go your way. I’ve had so much bad luck and near misses, and my team always brought me back up and kept believing in me. I can’t believe we’ve won the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift! A huge thanks to my team, my teammates, our partners and all the fans out there. To take home this yellow jersey and the victory exceeds all expectations.” — Kasia Niewiadoma 

Curious what happens on a team training camp to lead to such a heart-stopping triumph? Read Kasia Niewiadoma training camp diary while in Mallorca with CANYON//SRAM Racing. 

Riding Canyon’s newest Aeroad, Kasia delivered an unforgettable performance in the race. With features like reinforced carbon layup and aerodynamic profiling, the Aeroad has become the fastest bike in the pro peloton. Its next-level durability proved essential across the grueling stages, ensuring it handled every challenge of the race.  

The bike’s frame, reinforced to boost handling responsiveness, gave Kasia the edge she needed in those critical moments. Maintaining a lightweight build without compromising aerodynamic efficiency, the Aeroad’s complete setup tipped the scales just over 7 kg, providing the perfect balance of speed and agility throughout the race all the way up to Alpe d’Huez.  

With the Aeroad’s increased 32 mm tire clearance, Kasia was equipped with a bike that could seamlessly transition from the smooth roads of early stages to the rugged terrain of the French Alps. A key feature of the 4th generation Aeroad is the innovative PACE Bar, allowing riders to quickly swap between Classic and Aero Drops. The Aero Drops, designed with a more aggressive flared form in-line, reduces the rider’s frontal surface area, saving up to 14 watts during crucial moments. 

The new Aeroad is tougher, smarter, and more adaptable. Tested in the wind tunnel against its competitors and validated in real-world racing, it’s officially the fastest bike in the WorldTour. 

In another success for a Canyon rider, Fenix-Deceuninck's Puck Pieterse picked up the Young Rider classification jersey for the highest placed rider in the general classification under 23 years old and, after winning stage 4, wore the polka-dot jersey for two days as leader of the Mountains classification, finishing 3rd in that category overall. Puck Pieterse is continuing a good season that saw her place 3rd at Trofeo Alfredo Binda - Comune di Cittigliot ('24), 3rd at Ronde van Drenthe ('24) and 3rd at 2024 UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships.  

For Pauliena Rooijakkers, a Fenix team member, placing 3rd in GC is her highest achievement this season after placing 4th place in Giro Donne 2024. 

First class women cycling is back with the UCI Road World Championships returning in September 2024, with routes in and around the Swiss city of Zurich. Fighting to win a world title would be Kasia, Neve Bradbury, and Zoe Bäckstedt, while two-time ITT World Champion Chloe Dygart will look to secure a third triumph on an equally demanding course. The exciting program of 12 events runs from Sunday 22 September 2024 to Sunday 29 September 2024. For more information on schedule, routes and what to expect, check out our full guide here for everything you need to know.