This win is incredibly motivating. It’s pushed me to set my sights on new goals, like the World Championship’s jersey. Winning the Tour has given me a renewed belief that with patience, hard work, and just a bit of luck, anything is possible.
Overcoming challenges on the road to victory
Before this, I felt like I was always close but not quite there—second or third place, always on the podium but never on the top step. I knew I was in the best shape possible, but something always seemed to be missing. This year, that finally changed.
The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift is a race where countless factors influence the outcome—team dynamics, rival teams’ rosters, and sheer luck. This year, everything seemed to align perfectly for us. Even with the crashes in the early stages, the team never lost its spirit. Losing our teammate Elise Chabbey was a hard blow, but we never wavered from our goal. In a stage race, consistency is key. It’s about working hard every single day, not losing time, and seizing opportunities to gain it. Perhaps my reputation for being consistent, always placing around the top, is what ultimately helped me claim the Maillot Jaune.
Fierce competition and the hardest battle
The competition this year was intense. Every day, as we rode through the peloton, there was a palpable sense of how hard everyone was pushing. We could measure it—we were all setting personal records in power and speed. That’s a testament to how much this race means to everyone.
After seven gruelling days of racing, we faced the biggest mountains. That stage was one of the hardest, with endless elevation gain and the action starting right from the second-to-last climb. When Demi Vollering attacked, I didn’t have the legs to respond. At that moment, it felt like everything I’d worked for had slipped away. All my dreams and goals seemed to vanish in a split second, which was utterly devastating.
But then we hit the descent, and I managed to recover. I refuelled, rebuilt my confidence, and focused on closing the gap to Demi’s group. After refuelling on the descent, I found the strength to push hard on the final climb. To be honest, it was the hardest battle I’ve ever fought in my life. I was in pain for so long; it felt like it would never end. I hated every minute of it. But when I crossed the finish line and realised I had won, all the pain disappeared. All that was left was pure euphoria.
Tackling Alpe d’Huez
Approaching the final stages, especially Alpe d’Huez, I knew it would all come down to my climbing skills. Long climbs are something I’ve been working on—it’s definitely still a work in progress. My coach and I had adjusted my training plan specifically for this kind of suffering. I knew that feeling was crucial, and I may have messed that up on the second-to-last climb because I hit a low point. But by the time we reached Alpe d’Huez, I was focused on having enough energy to give my best.
Alpe d’Huez is a long climb, and pacing yourself is key. I paced myself until there were about 6 kilometres to go, knowing it would be around 25 minutes of pure suffering. At that point, my only option was pushing as hard as possible and seeing what happened. It’s a super uncomfortable state to be in—knowing that all you can do is give everything you have and hope it’s enough. My strategy was simple: to gain time and keep the yellow jersey. I’ll admit I had some doubts about whether I could keep it, but I had complete faith in my ability to push myself to the limit, so I stuck to that.
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Learning from experience
The previous editions of the Tour de France Femmes have been invaluable in helping me grow as a rider. The older you get, the more mature and experienced you become, and that’s something you can only gain with time. Knowing the course and the challenges we’d face before starting my preparations was crucial.
My coach and I built a plan that revolved entirely around the Tour and the Olympics. After the Classics season, I focused all my energy on shaping my training toward these goals. It feels incredibly rewarding and amazing to say that we achieved what we set out to do. But it wasn’t just my success—it was the success of my entire team, coach, friends, husband, and family. I wish I could bring them all onto the podium with me because they’ve all played a part in this victory.
The importance of teamwork
Having a team that stands by you, no matter the result, is vital. I’ve been with my team for eight seasons now, and we’ve built a close bond. We know each other so well, and it was incredible to see my teammates so committed to our shared goal. Even when things didn’t go our way, everyone was hard on themselves, determined to do better the next day. That commitment and energy spread through the team like wildfire.
As the Tour went on, we had tough moments, but those were the times that made us stronger and fueled our hunger for success even more. On the last stage, when the breakaway went, my team did an amazing job closing the gap. They were there with me on the final climbs, encouraging me through the radio and making sure I didn’t feel alone.
In cycling, the spotlight often falls on the individual winner, but the truth is that it’s a team sport. So many people work tirelessly behind the scenes—physiotherapists, mechanics, sports directors, and managers—everyone plays a role. My team was incredible, and I’m so grateful for them. Together, we’ve written another chapter in history, and that’s brought us even closer together. Unity and understanding within a team are so important.
Inspiring the next generation
I hope that my victory will inspire more people, especially in Poland, to get on a bike. Cycling is still a relatively small sport there, but I’ve already seen a shift. People are tagging me on social media, saying that they’ve started cycling because of me or that they want to try it out. That means the world to me.
As a kid, I was inspired by Polish athletes and always dreamed of being like them. Now, I hope that with this result, we’ll see more Polish riders coming up in big stage races or more people getting active and spending their time outdoors.
What’s next?
After such a long preparation period leading up to the summer’s big goals, I’m going to take a little time off. I’ve got a couple of media days, but after that, I plan to disappear from the radar for a bit. My husband and I will probably head to Poland to spend some time with family. But it won’t be long before I’m back to training and getting ready for the World Championships. There’s just one big goal left before the season is over.
It’s still hard for me to fully grasp the impact that this race has on women’s cycling. The Tour de France Femmes brings a level of attention and excitement unmatched in the sport. It’s iconic and has a rich history, and even though women’s cycling is still writing its own story, being part of such a legendary race is something special.
I believe this race has elevated the level of competition in the peloton. Everyone is riding harder, fighting for their moment in the spotlight, and that raises the overall standard of the race. After the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, every other race feels small in comparison. It’s hard for any other event to match the hype and attention this race brings, except maybe the Classics, but those are a different format altogether.
Looking ahead, I believe that in a few years, we could be racing for up to 14 days, with an even stronger peloton and more professional teams chasing those marginal gains that make all the difference. The future of women’s cycling is bright, and I’m excited to be a part of it.
