All the best images as Kasia Niewiadoma narrowly hangs on to the maillot jaune despite Demi Vollering's powerful stage victory on the Tour de France Femmes' historic first ascent of Alpe d'Huez
Kasia Niewiadoma embraces her husband Taylor Phinney after winning the Tour de France Femmes(Image credit: Getty Images)
It's very rare that a stage surrounded by such hype not only lives up to expectations but actually exceeds them, yet the eighth and final stage of the Tour de France Femmes can undoubtedly rank itself among those elite few.
The storyline of the maillot jaune defending their lead against a bruised but bullish defending champion already had set the stage for a dramatic final stage, placing this plot within the mythical setting of Alpe d'Huez - for the first time since 1992 - meant we were set for a finale for the ages.
After Demi Vollering's crash on stage 5, she fell out of the yellow jersey and was very nearly out of the top 10 too. By the time the mountains arrived this weekend, Kasia Niewiadoma knew she'd have to ride out of her skin to keep the maillot jaune on her shoulders. What followed on stage 8, will live long in the history of not just women's cycling, but the sport in general.
Cyclingnews has curated the best of the images from ASO photographers and Getty Images, capturing all the emotions on a historic first ride up the mythical mountain.
(Image credit: ASO)
Marion Rousse gets a historic Tour de France Femmes stage underway
(Image credit: ASO)
The day's break heads up the road, and into the clouds
(Image credit: ASO)
Kasia Niewiadoma's Canyon-SRAM teammates get to work controlling the time gap
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(Image credit: ASO)
One last day to hold onto the maillot blanc for debutant Puck Pieterse
(Image credit: ASO)
The bunch thins out as the slopes of the Col du Glandon rise up
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The eyes say it all, Cédrine Kerbaol stares up the mountain as she suffers on the steepest sections of the Col du Glandon
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Not looking back, Demi Vollering attacks on the upper slopes, taking Pauliena Rooijakkers and Valentina Cavallar with her
(Image credit: ASO)
Defending her jersey, the maillot jaune scrapes back time on the descent
(Image credit: ASO)
Leading from the front, Demi Vollering sets the pace as the Dutch duo arrive at the foot of Alpe d'Huez
'Which hairpin was that?' The chasing trio, including the maillot jaune, power up the Alpe as the time gap continuously swings back and forth
(Image credit: ASO)
There are few better front row seats in sport than Alpe d'Huez
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Against the clock, the lead duo power to the line
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It's 'you against you' as Demi Vollering points to her head, crossing the line clear of Pauliena Rooijakkers. The first female stage winner of Alpe d'Huez since 1992
(Image credit: Getty Images)
For all of Vollering's might though, Kasia Niewiadoma arrived at the finish line in the nick of time. Her reaction speaks for itself
(Image credit: ASO)
Four seconds. The smallest margin of victory in the women's or men's Tour de France history
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Yet when someone wins by a narrow margin, someone loses by an equally narrow margin too
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The emotions pour out between Lidl-Trek's Lucinda Brand and Shirin van Anrooij
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Kasia Niewiadoma embraces her husband and former professional cyclist Taylor Phinney
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Respect between two champions. What a show they put on
(Image credit: ASO)
There might be just one maillot jaune but there's a whole team behind the victory
(Image credit: ASO)
Four different jersey winners. Some young, some more experienced. All writing their names into the history books
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Three editions of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, three different winners
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Pete joined Cyclingnews as Engagement Editor in 2024 having previously worked at GCN as a digital content creator, cutting his teeth in cycling journalism across their app, social media platforms, and website. While studying Journalism at university, he worked as a freelancer for Cycling Weekly reporting on races such as the Giro d’Italia and Milan-San Remo alongside covering the Women’s Super League and non-league football for various titles. Pete has an undeniable passion for sport, with a keen interest in tennis, running and football too.
