2024 Tour de France Femmes Stage 8 Results & Recap
Stage 8 of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Niewiadoma wins Tour de France Femmes
Demi Vollering attacked on the Glandon. Pauliena Rooijakkers followed, while yellow jersey Kasia Niewiadoma struggled to keep up. A thrilling battle of seconds unfolded on the final climb to Alpe d'Huez.
Vollering took the stage win, but Niewiadoma secured the overall victory by 4 seconds.
Queen of the Mountains Justine Ghekiere initiated the breakaway with Mischa Bredewold, Christine Majerus, Blanka Vas, Lorena Wiebes, Franziska Koch, Lucinda Brand, and Fem van Empel before Loes Adegeest, Riejanne Markus, Silke Smulders, Alice Maria Arzuffi, Kristen Faulkner, Noemi Rüegg, Liane Lippert, Olivia Baril, Silvia Persico, Erica Magnaldi, Marthe Truyen, Camille Fahy, Célia Le Mouel, Katrine Aalreud, and Mie Bjørndal Ottestad bridged across on the Col de Tamié.
Truyen couldn't keep up with the others, who opened up a lead of almost 3 minutes. Ghekiere cemented her QOM lead at the Tamié.
The gap was down to 2 minutes when the break hit the Col du Glandon. Brand headed out with Adegeest, Smulders, Arzuffi, Lippert, Magnaldi, and Aalerud on her wheel, while Valentina Cavallar rejoined them inside the last 6 kilometres. The peloton was also close behind, which inspired Cavallar to continue on her own.
The chasers were joined by Demi Vollering, Niamh Fisher-Black, Kasoa Niewiadoma, Gaia Realini, Sarah Gigante, Évita Muzic, Puck Pieterse, and Pauliena Rooijakkers.
Vollering accelerated with 3 kilometres to go to the top. Rooijakkers followed her move, but yellow jersey Niewiadoma was dropped. The two caught Cavallar.
Yellow jersey Niewiadoma crested the Glandon 55 seconds behind the attackers, while Cavallar lost contact in the descent.
Initially, the gap with the Niewiadoma group grew to 1.25 minutes, but by the base of the final climb, it had shrunk to 45 seconds. It stayed at that level for the first few kilometers, but then Vollering and Rooijakkers started to pull away again. However, the gap stopped growing and even began to close, leading to a thrilling battle of seconds.
In the last 4 kilometers, the Polish rider reduced her deficit to 45 seconds, but then it started to go out again. In the final few hundred meters, defending champion Vollering went all-in. She won the stage but fell just short of renewing her title.
Niewiadoma crossed the line in fourth place, 1 minute and 1 second later. She won the Tour de France Femmes with a 4-second lead over Vollering and 10 seconds over Rooijakkers.
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