Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney may have entered into La Vuelta Femenina with an eye to the podium and then set out to deliver a solid performance through the opening stages, but it was always the final two days of climbing that were going to deliver the ultimate test. The first certainly didn't go to plan.
After a tricky run in the Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto rider entered the final first-category climb to Les Praeres – nearly four kilometres at an average gradient of 13.5% – well positioned in the dramatically reduced peloton.
“The climb was just super steep. I mean, it’s hard to get any sort of cadence on that steep, steep climb," said Niewiadoma-Phinney of the ascent, which included sections with gradients rising to 20%.
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"I need some time to digest today, and to realise it was just a warm-up for what we have to race up tomorrow,” concluded Niewiadoma.
