Katarzyna Niewiadoma has won the Maillot Jaune at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes after a finale atop the mythical climb of Alpe d'Huez after a thrilling final stage that saw Demi Vollering go long but ultimately come up just short.
The attacks started early on this final stage with a massive group of over 20 riders getting up the road on the first climb of the day. Among the break were the notable names of Queen of the Mountains Justine Ghekiere who started the day just 1:27 off the yellow, plus four Team SD Worx - Protime riders as a potential satellite for a Demi Vollering attack.
More than just the Alpe d'Huez climb though, there was also the Col du Glandon and as the race began to take on the first of the two HC climbs, things were already starting to break up. All the SD Worx riders immediately dropped out of the front group and even out the back of the peloton, whilst a counter attack by Mavi Garcia saw the first move from the GC group.
When Niamh Fisher-Black took to the front of that group on the Glandon, things exploded and with over 53km to go on the stage and 2.5km of the climb, Demi Vollering launched her attack, immediately distancing Katarzyna Niewiadoma. By the summit, the gap was already 55 seconds between Vollering, who had company from Pauliena Rooijakkers and Valentina Cavallar, from the Maillot Jaune behind.
On the descent, Vollering and Rooijakkers rode clear of Cavallar, and with just 2 seconds separating the pair at the start of the day (in Rooijakkers favour ed.), the Maillot Jaune was very much in play as they reached the bottom of the descent, with Niewiadoma's group now around 1:30 down the road.
In the valley though, the co-operation between Vollering and Rooijakkers completely disintegrated with the two leaders vociferously exchanging words on a number of occasions. As such, the time gap to the Niewiadoma was beginning to drop. As Alpe d'Huez began, just 43 seconds now separated the groups.
On the final climb, things began to swing back into the favour of the two leaders but still neither Vollering or Rooijakkers could distance the other. The closer the top loomed however, the nearer Niewiadoma was getting as the Maillot Jaune made a massive effort. With 3km to go, the Pole was just 45 seconds away from the front of the race.
With just over 2km to go, Rooijakkers upped the pace at the front and almost simultaneously, Evita Muzic attacked in the Niewiadoma group. The gap was still under the minute mark though and the Polish leader of Canyon//SRAM Racing was looking better and better for a famous Maillot Jaune win. Vollering powered away in the finale to take the stage and then the clock started ticking and just but only just Niewiadoma did enough.
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