Kasia Niewiadoma finished stage six of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in yellow, retaining the general classification lead by sixteen seconds with two stages remaining.

The sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift began in the Vosges in Remiremont. The stage held 2234 metres of climbing, but most were stacked into the second half of the stage, where the intensity of attacks started.

Soraya Paladin rode strongly for CANYON//SRAM Racing in a large breakaway of eighteen riders, ensuring her teammates behind could focus solely on positioning Kasia. The breakaway steadily reduced in size, with Soraya always present in the moves from the leading group.

When attacks started to fly on the Cote des Fris in the last kilometres, the breakaway’s reign was over. Chloé Dygert had kept Neve Bradbury and Kasia in a good position for the final part of the stage. The pace was heating up, but Neve rode strongly to control the gap to the sole leader, Cédrine Kerbaol (WNT), who took the stage win. Kasia crossed the line in seventh place, holding on to the Maillot Jaune with two stages remaining.

Tomorrow, the mountains are calling as the peloton heads into the Alps. The stage will cross the Col de la Sierra, Côte du Bois de l’Arlod, and Côte de Cercler, and Col-de-Saint-Jean-de-Sixt before the final climb to the summit of La Grand Bornand. Kasia and the team are looking forward to the mountain stages and the fight for the overall. The CANYON//SRAM Racing rider leads by sixteen seconds ahead of Kerbaol. Neve moves to fourth in the youth classification.

RIDER REACTIONS

Kasia Niewiadoma: “The final was exciting with the climbs in the last kilometres. I had the team help me throughout the stage, especially Neve, in the closing kilometres to help control the gap to the leader. We knew that as soon as we got into the final 2km, other teams would be going for a result on the stage, and the gap would stay within reach of me keeping yellow. It felt in some ways that many riders today were already focused on the next two mountain stages. We’re expecting a battle tomorrow. I’ve been recovering well, and I’ve trained for these long mountains that we will face tomorrow and on Sunday. I’m ready, and our team is more than ready.”

Neve Bradbury: “It was a hard stage in the last kilometres. Cédrine was off the front, and since she was fourth in GC, we had to keep the gap small to keep Kasia in yellow. But we managed it, and we’re happy to see her again on the podium in yellow.

Everyone worked hard to keep the jersey today. We had Agnieszka and Alice keeping a lid on the breakaway and Soraya in the break. Chloé kept Kasia and me in a good position for the final. The pace was hard on the final climb, and it wasn’t easy to stay there. I got over it and could help support Kasia for the final, where she was sixth in the group. Now, it’s time to focus on the two next stages.”

HOW TO WATCH

Tomorrow’s seventh stage can be followed on X with #TDFF2024 and #WatchTheFemmes. Watch the broadcast on France TV, RTBF, VRT, TG4, NOS, TV2, Eurosport, RTVE, SRG-SSR, SPORTSCHAU, CARACOL, RCN, FRANCE 24, SUPERSPORT, ABU DHABI SPORTS, FLOBIKES, CNBC, PEACOCK, ESPN, SBS, JSPORTS, SKY SPORT, ZHIBO TV, TV5MONDE and MAX.

Stage 7 | Champagnole – Le Grand-Bornand | 166.4km | 10:30CEST | Broadcast 13:00CEST.

Stage 8 | Le Grand-Bornand – Alpe D’Huez | 149.9km | 13:40CEST | Broadcast 16:20CEST.

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