Bonjour and welcome to Cyclingnews' live coverage of the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes!
So the final stage of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes is finally upon us and a mouthwatering first meeting with Alpe d'Huez awaits the peloton today.
After an enthralling week, here's how the standings look with one stage left to race.
From the riders looking to tackle the stage head-on, to those not riding at all.
For an in-depth insight into the 150km-long parcours awaiting the peloton today, check out our stage 8 preview here.
The riders are going through the sign-on and team presentation process in Le Grand-Bornard.
Meanwhile, it seems like the yellow jersey isn't going to be given up without a fight.
With all the sign-ons done and dusted, the riders are heading for the neutralised start.
The flag drop is expected to be roughly 15 minutes from now.
The green points jersey is a much more clear-cut affair than the GC battle, with Marianne Vos (Visma Lease-a-Bike) sitting already beyond reach on 170.
149.9km to go
Amber Kraak of FDJ-Suez has wasted no time in getting up the road.
Not to be for Kraak, as she's reeled in soon after.
Is it a surprise that plenty of riders want to get up the road today, though?
While the peloton decides who can and who can't head up the road, let's remind ourselves how yesterday's stage went.
It's almost like she knew we were talking about her!
Ghekiere isn't alone though, it looks to be a pretty sizeable group pushing on.
While we work out who made the break, we should probably tell you about the first categorised climb of the day.
The size of the group looking to push on is causing it some trouble, with some teams clearly not wanting the elastic to snap.
We're still unclear of the make-up of the leading group, but we do know they've managed to get clear now. A 30-second advantage as they head up the Col de Tamié.
There's a 23-rider group out in front, with 4 of the SD-Worx-Protime team in there. We'll list off the full contingent shortly.
The 22-rider group with over a minute on the peloton consists of:
Three non-starters become four as Movistar confirm that Sheyla Gutiérrez didn't take to the start this afternoon due to COVID-19.
Just 3km to the summit of the Col de Tamié.
SD-Worx-Protime showing their gameplan for today right from the off, with four riders already up the road.
Justine Ghekiere will be looking to strengthen her grip on the polka dot jersey shortly.
The break are continuing to build an advantage. They're now 1:40 ahead.
It's a wet and windy day in the French Alps.
QOM (Col de Tamié)
The bunch have cut the gap back down to 1:15 on the descent.
We're back down into the valley, with flat roads (including an intermediate sprint) for the next 40km.
The gap has stretched out once more, with 2:30 between the leading group and the bunch now.
Justine Ghekiere (+1:27) is the biggest threat to the overall standings from today's break, with her currently sitting in the virtual lead.
Less than 10km to go until the intermediate sprint in Aiguebelle.
Demi Vollering is back in the bunch with only Niamh Fisher-Black for support.
100KM to go
To whet your appetite for the final climb of today's stage, and this year's edition of Le Tour Femmes, get the inside track with our preview of cycling's most iconic summit finish: Alpe d'Huez.
Ilse Pluimers (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) and Alison Avoine (St Michel-Mavic-Auber93) have been forced to abandon due to a crash.
Intermediate sprint (Aiguebelle)
18km to go until we start climbing again!
There's 3,748 vertical metres of climbing today. Shock, it's the most of any stage in this edition of the Tour de France Femmes.
The gap is beginning to fall back towards the two-minute marker.
There was a brief split in the lead group for a moment there but all 22 riders are back together now.
A combined effort from Canyon-SRAM, FDJ-Suez and Fenix-Deceuninck is helping to reel the break in.
The summit of the Col du Glandon 22km awaits. Climbing starts imminently for the break!
The hors catégorie climb is a leg-sapping 19.9km in length, at 7.2%. This could well be an early reckoner for some riders with GC aspirations.
The Col du Glandon is the ceiling of this year's Tour de France Femmes at 1923m. However, it is still 182m less than the Col du Tourmalet - the race's highest-ever point, reached in last year's edition.
As the leading group heads onto the early slopes of the Col du Glandon, there's already been some thinning out of the pack.
Back in the bunch, Liv AlUla Jayco are at the front and driving the pace on.
Kasia Niewiadoma has a steely focus at the moment. We wonder how she's feeling inside?
The likes of Faulkner and Persico have been caught by the peloton and swiftly dropped too. Yara Kastelijn (Fenix-Deceuninck) has also been dropped by the bunch.
Just over one minute separating the leaders from the bunch now.
Just seven riders remain in the leading group, including Liane Lippert (Movistar) and Lucinda Brand (Lidl-Trek).
Queen of the Mountains leader Justine Ghekiere (AG Insurance-Soudal Team) is one of the riders dropped from the break. She'll likely be swallowed up by the bunch pretty soon.
Despite sending four riders into the original breakaway, only two SD-Worx-Protime riders remain ahead of the peloton. Mischa Bredewold and Blanka Vas both have just 50 seconds on the bunch. Does the team have a plan B?
Cecilie Uttrup Ludwig (FDJ-Suez) is leading the peloton up the Col du Glandon. The gap is holding at around 1:25 for the moment.
Marianne Vos is towards the back of the peloton at the moment.
10km to the summit of the Col du Glandon. The riders will get a brief reprieve shortly with some shallower gradients before the road kicks up to between 9.9-10.9% for the final three kilometres.
Approximately 30 riders remain in the peloton.
Just 20 seconds separate the main pack from the chasing group which contains both QOM leader Justine Gherieke and Demi Vollering's SD-Worx-Protime teammates Mischa Bredewold and Blanka Vas.
There's just a few metres between the bunch and the chasing group now. Their hopes of an historic stage win are over for today.
Valentina Cavallar (Arkéa-B&B Hotels) has attacked out of the peloton, bursting past Mavi García (Liv AlUla Jayco) who made a similar, albeit less effective, move moments earlier.
The gap between the GC contenders in the peloton and the lead group now sits at just 30 seconds.
Cavallar has already reached the head of the race. The Austrian has ridden straight past the leading group, pushing on up the climb.
Meanwhile, Niamh Fisher-Black is setting the pace in the bunch. Perhaps ahead of a Demi Vollering attack?
Niewiadoma isn't taking any chances, sitting right on the wheel of Vollering. The Polish rider is now without any Canyon-SRAM teammates after Neve Bradbury was dropped.
There's still over 4km to the summit of the Col du Glandon.
Will Demi look to gamble from far out? Or will she save her chips and go all in on the Alpe?
A strong effort so far from the Fenix-Deceuninck duo of Puck Pieterse and Pauliena Rooijakkers. The Dutch pairing are sitting right on the wheel of the maillot jaune.
Valentina Cavellar has extended her lead back out to 25 seconds. The race looks to be heading into rain, with a temperature of nine degrees celsius on the mountain.
Attack
Kasia Niewiadoma couldn't hold the pace of the defending champion, with the Canyon-SRAM rider now almost 30 seconds in arrears.
Puck Pieterse has been distanced from the chasing group, she's now a minute back from Vollering and sliding down the virtual GC standings.
Vollering and Rooijakkers continue to push on amidst the clouds as they near the summit of the Col du Glandon. Over 45 seconds between Vollering and Niewadoma now.
The chase group appears to be functioning better now. There's fiver riders there, including Lucinda Brand, Gaia Realini (Lidl-Trek), Sarah Gigante (AG Insurance-Soudal), Évita Muzic (FDJ-Suez) and the yellow jersey Niewiadoma.
QOM (COL DU GLANDON)
The moment Demi decided to gamble.
The trio of leaders took that first part of the descent at varying speeds but they're all back together now. The time gap is now out to 1:15.
If things weren't already looking good for Demi Vollering, her teammate Niamh Fisher-Black is on the tail of the chasing group containing Niewiadoma.
Valentina Cavellar has been distanced again on the descent, with Vollering testing Rooijakkers on some of the hairpins.
There's quite a pace on the descent now, with some riders hitting 93km/h.
Cavallar is 25 seconds back from the leading pair, with Cédrine Kerbaol now pushing on from the chasing group. The Frenchwoman is really testing some of her experienced GC counterparts.
Fisher-Black is doing her best to disrupt proceedings within the chasing group.
There's a small gap between Vollering and Rooijakkers on the descent, roughly five seconds between the two Dutch riders.
Top up your drink, grab those snacks, and take your refreshment break now, there's only 15km to the foot of our final climb, the Alpe d'Huez.
Vollering and Rooijakkers are back on the flat, and back together. A well-paced descent by the Fenix-Deceuninck rider.
It's not going to be smooth sailing for Demi Vollering for this final 25km. Rooijakkers is sitting on and not taking turns - can you blame her?
This bickering between the lead duo, and a bit more teamwork from the chasers - now seven strong - has cut the gap to 1:15.
Nerves of steel from Cédrine Kerbaol on the last descent.
The gap to the leading pair is shrinking, but there seem to be some mini-attacks that are disrupting affairs in the chase group.
As it stands, Kasia Niewiadoma is still in the yellow jersey.
The leading duo have hit the slopes of Alpe d'Huez.
For the first time since 1992, the women's peloton hits the 'Dutch Mountain'.
Alpe d'Huez is 14km in distance, with 21 hairpin bends and an average gradient of 7.9%.
There's a 37-second gap between the leading pair and the chasing group which now only includes: Kasia Niewiadoma, Gaia Realini and Évita Muzic.
Here's a closer look at the gradient profile of Alpe d'Huez.
Vollering flicks her elbow, no response from Rooijakkers.
The gap has slipped out to a minute now, this could go down to the wire.
It seems highly likely that Vollering will want to attack Rooijakkers at some point on this climb, she won't want to tow her to the finish.
Whatever the outcome, Kasia Niewiadoma has worn the maillot jaune with honour.
And it's the yellow jersey that continues to do the work in the chase pack.
We're not seeing pictures of it on TV but it seems like there's a great battle for the maillot blanc further down the mountain.
Valentina Cavallar is now in the third group on the road with Cédrine Kerbaol, two minutes back.
With less than half the climb remaining, the gap still sits at just above a minute between the two leaders and the maillot jaune.
Niewiadoma is really bouncing in and out of her saddle now. It's not through exhaustion, though. She's just trying to drive as much power through her pedals as possible.
You may have to prepare yourself for some mental arithmetic at the summit, there are bonus seconds up for grabs.
We're into the final 5km of the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
The pendulum swings back into the favour of Niewiadoma.
Pauliena Rooijakkers has only ever taken two professional wins in her career.
Vollering and Rooijakkers are going to have to find an extra gear if they want to win this yellow jersey. The gap goes below 50 seconds once more.
Vollering is hunched over her handlebars. Niewiadoma is gritting her teeth. Rooijakkers is clutching to her compatriot's wheel.
Now Rooijakkers goes! All those kilometres sat in the wheel. Can she snap the elastic of Demi Vollering?
Vollering manages to reel her in, though.
Évita Muzic, amidst a passionate home crowd, powers on and Niewiadoma manages to cling onto her wheel.
Muzic rocks her torso back and forth as she puts down the power, this could help Niewiadoma here.
There's still less than a minute splitting the groups. Bonus seconds will surely have a part to play!
Under the flamme rouge go the leading duo.
The stage will surely go to one of the Dutch leaders now.
Vollering leads them out.
Vollering gaps Rooijakkers and wins atop Alpe d'Huez!
But can Kasia Niewiadoma cross the line in time?
She can!
There's tears, and lots of them, as the realisation of what she's achieved hits home for the Polish rider!
By a margin of just four seconds, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) has won the 2024 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift.
The moment Kasia realised she'd done it.
Some reaction from a few of today's key characters.
Pauliena Rooijakkers put in a stellar ride today, and achieved third-place in the overall standings.
Next, some words from the 2024 Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey winner. Canyon-SRAM's Kasia Niewiadoma.
"It's so crazy to be honest. The whole stage was such a crazy rollercoaster, like I had a really bad moment on Glandon. Then on the descent I was able to rebuild myself. I was so lucky to have Lucinda Brand, so thank you to Lidl-Trek, they did a great job getting us closer to Demi and Pauliena," she exclaimed.
Niawiadoma continued: "I went through such a terrible time on this climb [Alpe d'Huez] so to arrive at the finish line to learn that I've won the Tour de France is insane, it's mindblowing."
The lows of cycling...
And the highs.
Some of the other classification winners, now.
A superb Tour de France Femmes debut from Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck), the winner of the young rider's classification.
No pictures of green points jersey winner Mariannes Vos (Visma-Lease a Bike) on the podium yet, but she has crossed the line.
A valiant ride from stage 8 winner and GC runner-up Demi Vollering (SD-Worx-Protime).
And then, of course, the 'niew' name on the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift's honours board, Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM).
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