Cassia Niewiadoma took second place and the yellow jersey on stage 5 of the Tour de France. The Canyon-Slam rider joined a small lead group after a group crash with 6km to go. However, she was unaware that overnight leader Demi Vollering (SD Works-Protime) was involved in the accident that caused a 1:47 delay in Amneville.

“I didn't know the crash had happened, and since it had happened so many times leading up to the race, I figured the field had split on the downhill. At that moment, my racing instincts kicked in and all I could think about was making it to the final,” Nienyadoma said.

“I knew the final would be to my advantage. I hadn't scouted the stage, so I didn't know what the last 500 meters would be like, but winning the stage was my main goal.

“It's not something to celebrate or be proud of, but unfortunately it's part of the race.

Near the end of the 152.5km stage from Bastogne to Amneville, just 6km from the finish, a sharp chicane from a roundabout caused a group crash. About 25 riders, including Vollering, were knocked to the ground.

The group, which included Nieviadma and teammate Chloe Djerre, split from the front and the time trial world champion kept the pressure on until 1.2km remained, when Nieviadma attacked. In the end, the Polish rider, along with Blanka Vas (SD Works Pro Time), Liane Lippert (Movistar), and Kristen Faulkner (EF Autry-Cannondale), won the sprint for the win for Vas.

“All week, the girls have been telling me what to do, and Kasia was like, ‘Chloe, Chloe,’ the whole time.”

Dygert admitted that she did not know that Vollering was injured in the crash. She said, “I heard there was a crash at that time, or at that turn, but I just did what the leader told me to do.”

Soraya Paladin, who was also in the lead group, said that the riders were informed of the crash after the race and was concerned about Vollering.

“I was told during the race and only realized it at the finish. I am happy to have the yellow jersey, but not happy that I got it because of the crash. I hope Vollering is okay and that he can fight on the climbs.”

Niewiadoma now leads the Tour de France women's GC standings, 19 seconds ahead of Faulkner and 22 seconds ahead of Pak Peterse (Phoenix-Desseuninck). Vollering has dropped to ninth place, 1:19 back. However, with two more mountain stages remaining, La Grand Bornand (stage 7) and the summit of the Alpe d'Huez (stage 8), the overall standings are still up for grabs.

“One minute and 19 seconds in the mountains is honestly nothing. We've put in a lot of time for these two final stages. I feel like I've been waiting for the mountains ever since we started in Rotterdam,” Nienyadoma said. [In a way, I am confident because I put a lot of effort and work into improving my long climbing technique. I know that Demi is very strong and she has worked on the same things.

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