'Improvement of Women's Cycling Tour' - Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney Satisfied with Third Place Finish at Femmes Tour de France Despite Advancement Since Yellow Jersey Victory
The 2022 Tour de France Femmes pivoted on the 19km climb of the Col de la Madeleine on stage 8, where Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and Demi Vollering aimed to take advantage of Marianne Gigante's descending weakness during the race.
Niewiadoma-Phinney, the leader of Canyon-SRAM zondacrypto team, and Vollering attacked on the descent of the Joux-Plane mid-stage, gaining more than 3:30 over Gigante. This strategic move moved them up a place onto the podium.
However, it was Pauline Ferrand-Prévot who claimed victory in the Tour de France Femmes 2022, finishing four minutes ahead of Niewiadoma-Phinney. Vollering finished in fourth place, while Gigante moved up six places into second place in the overall standings.
Niewiadoma-Phinney expressed satisfaction with her third-place finish, noting that her team has finished on the podium in every edition of the Tour de France Femmes. She noted that the climb of the Joux-Plane was challenging, with a gradient of 8%.
Niewiadoma-Phinney, who won the Tour de France Femmes in 2021, noted that women's cycling is undergoing significant growth and entering a "golden era," especially highlighted by the Tour de France Femmes. The race has played a pivotal role in increasing visibility, media coverage, and investment in the sport, transforming the future of women's professional cycling.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, revived officially in 2022 after a 33-year hiatus, has become the most-watched race in women's cycling, with broadcasts reaching 190 countries and drawing massive viewership (over 80 million viewing hours in 2024 alone). The event has spurred broader participation too—61% of people exposed to the race reported riding more themselves, and 17% bought a bike.
The 2025 edition of the Tour de France Femmes reached record audience numbers, particularly in France, with over 25 million French viewers tuning in for at least one minute, a massive increase over prior years. Younger demographics are particularly engaged, and digital viewership surged with a sixfold increase in social media video views year-on-year.
Niewiadoma-Phinney did not express any regrets about the opening week of the 2022 Tour de France Femmes, where several days of GC stalemate preceded the dominant victory of Pauline Ferrand-Prévot on the Col de la Madeleine. Gigante revealed her main weakness in descending during the climbs of the Massif Central earlier in the week.
In sum, the 2022 Tour de France Femmes was a testament to the growth and popularity of women's cycling. With increased race coverage, investment, and fan interest, it seems that women's cycling is entering a durable, elevated phase of growth and popularity.
Women's cycling, as showcased by the Tour de France Femmes, has expanded significantly in the realms of science, health-and-wellness, and fitness-and-exercise, inspiring more individuals to participate in cycling and buy bicycles. Furthermore, the race has catalyzed a transformation in women's health, as observed in the competitive spirit and determination exhibited by athletes like Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney, who have consistently podiumed in this prestigious event, often considered a symbol of sports excellence.
