Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney facts for kids
Niewiadoma at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes
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| Personal information | |||
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| Full name | Katarzyna Niewiadoma-Phinney | ||
| Nickname | Kasia | ||
| Born | 29 September 1994 Limanowa, Poland |
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| Height | 169 cm | ||
| Weight | 49 kg | ||
| Team information | |||
| Current team | Canyon//SRAM | ||
| Discipline | Road | ||
| Role | Rider | ||
| Rider type | Climbing specialist | ||
| Major wins | |||
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Katarzyna "Kasia" Niewiadoma-Phinney is an inspiring Polish racing cyclist. She competes for the famous team UCI Women's WorldTeam Canyon–SRAM. Kasia is known worldwide as a fearless hill climber on her bike. Her most famous victory was winning the 2024 Tour de France Femmes. She won that grand race by just four seconds. That tiny gap was the closest winning margin in race history. She has also triumphed in major classic races across Europe. These wins include La Flèche Wallonne and the thrilling Amstel Gold Race. Kasia has conquered steep hills and dirt roads alike. In 2023, she won the UCI Gravel World Championship. She always shows great courage, stamina, and determination during every competition.
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How Kasia Niewiadoma Started Bike Racing
Kasia was born in the town of Limanowa in Poland. As a young girl, she discovered a true passion for riding bikes fast. She joined a local youth cycling club called WLKS Krakus BBC Czaja. Coaches quickly noticed her rare ability to pedal up steep mountains without tiring. She later moved to another Polish team named TKK Pacific Toruń. There, her competitive skills grew very quickly through hard practice.
In 2013, Kasia showed Poland that she was a rising sports star. She took two national titles in the Under-23 division. She placed fourth overall among senior riders in the national time trial. She also earned fourth place in the national road race. In a time trial, cyclists race against the clock one by one. In a road race, all riders begin together in a large pack. Kasia then rode at the European Road Championships and finished fifth.
Because she was so fast, top professional teams wanted to sign her. In autumn 2013, she joined the Dutch team Rabobank-Liv Giant. She started as a stagiaire, which means an apprentice or trainee rider. She tested her legs in the multi-day Holland Ladies Tour. She placed tenth overall and won the prize for best young rider. That same year, she rode in the road race at the 2013 UCI Road World Championships. Even though she did not finish, she gained valuable experience.
Professional Cycling Career and Early Success
Racing with Rabo–Liv from 2014 to 2017
Early Breakthroughs in 2014
Kasia signed an official contract with Rabobank-Liv Woman Cycling Team in late 2013. She began her full professional journey in February 2014. Just four months later, she captured her first major victory. She won the Swiss one-day race named GP du Canton d'Argovie. This early win gave the young rider immense confidence for bigger challenges.
Next came the famous Giro d'Italia Femminile, often called the Giro Rosa. This event is a grueling multi-day Grand Tour across Italy. Kasia worked as a helper for her legendary team leader Marianne Vos. Kasia guided Vos up giant mountain passes in the rocky Alps. While helping her team, Kasia still finished eleventh overall. She also finished third in the young rider classification.
Later that summer, Kasia entered the Ladies Tour of Norway. Alongside teammates Anna van der Breggen and Vos, Kasia rode aggressively. She finished third overall on the final podium. She earned the distinctive jersey for the best climber. She also won the white jersey as the top young rider.
She ended that season at the World Championships in Ponferrada, Spain. Leading the Polish national squad, she finished eleventh in the road race. She sprinted against the best female racers on earth.
Climbing to the Top in 2015
During 2015, Kasia proved she belonged among the world's elite cyclists. She finished sixth in the white-gravel race Strade Bianche Donne. Soon after, she took fifth place in Belgium at La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. She also climbed to third at the Holland Hills Classic behind champion Lizzie Armitstead.
In June, Kasia celebrated a huge multi-day triumph. She won the Emakumeen Euskal Bira, a hilly race in northern Spain. She also won a shiny silver medal in the women's road race at the European Games in Baku.
At the Giro Rosa, Kasia shared team leadership duties with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot. She grabbed the white jersey for best young rider early in the race. She then rode remarkably fast during a tough 21.7-kilometre (13.5-mile) individual time trial. She crossed the finish line fifth on that stage. By the end of the final mountain summit, Kasia placed fifth overall. She securely kept the white jersey.
Kasia then travelled to Tartu, Estonia, for the UEC European Road Championships. In the under-23 road race, she launched an attack on the last lap. She caught the leaders and outsprinted Italian rider Ilaria Sanguineti for gold. Teammates Thalita de Jong and Anouska Koster celebrated her victory. She finished the year winning bronze in the team time trial at the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia.
Becoming a Champion in 2016
The 2016 season brought even more trophies for the Polish star. At the Strade Bianche, the first race of the UCI Women's World Tour, she took second place behind Lizzie Armitstead. She placed seventh at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio and tenth at the Tour of Flanders.
Her first victory of the year came at the Ronde van Gelderland. She sprinted past Natalie van Gogh and Lieselot Decroix. She then won the overall title at the Festival Luxembourgeois du cyclisme féminin Elsy Jacobs. She repeated that winning performance at the Giro del Trentino Alto Adige-Südtirol.
Back home in Poland, Kasia swept the national championship events. She beat Katarzyna Pawłowska by 24 seconds in the time trial. Days later, she defeated Anna Plichta by 44 seconds in the road race.
In Italy, she completed another tough Giro Rosa. She fought back from time losses to finish seventh overall, winning another young rider jersey. Kasia then proudly represented Poland at the Rio Olympics. She stayed with the leaders in the road race and placed sixth. She capped her summer by winning two stages at the Holland Ladies Tour. At the European Road Championships, she took under-23 gold and elite silver.
Attacking the Hills in 2017
The spring of 2017 showcased Kasia's fearless climbing style. She finished second at Strade Bianche after an intense duel with Elisa Longo Borghini. She then tackled the famous Ardennes classics, a trio of steep hill races. She finished third at the Amstel Gold Race after battling Annemiek van Vleuten and Coryn Rivera.
At La Flèche Wallonne Féminine, Kasia surged forward on the Cote de Cherave. Only Anna van der Breggen and Lizzie Deignan could follow her pace. Kasia finished third atop the brutal Mur de Huy hill. A few days later, she took third place again at Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes.
Kasia achieved a breathtaking victory at The Women's Tour in Britain. On stage one, she rode alone on a daring 50-kilometre (31-mile) solo breakaway. She crossed the finish line 1 minute and 42 seconds ahead of Marianne Vos. Kasia defended her green jersey all week to win the general classification. This triumph lifted her to the top of the world cycling rankings. She ended her 2017 season with sixth place at the Giro Rosa and fifth at the World Championship road race.
Racing with Canyon–SRAM from 2018 to the Present
Big Wins and Hard Attacks in 2018
In 2018, Kasia began racing for the German squad Canyon–SRAM. She started her season at the Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, helping teammate Hannah Barnes take the win. Kasia placed second at Strade Bianche for the third time in a row.
Soon after, Kasia earned a memorable one-day victory at the Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio. She launched a surprise solo attack with 8 kilometres (5.0 miles) left. Rain fell on the slick roads, but she held off the chase.
She traveled to America for the Tour of California. She climbed high into the snowy mountains around South Lake Tahoe, placing third overall. In Europe, she finished seventh at the Giro Rosa and sixth at La Course by Le Tour de France.
Before the world championships, she won the Tour Cycliste Féminin International de l'Ardèche in France. She won the summit stage on Mont Lozère and claimed the mountains jersey. She finished the World Championships in twelfth place.
Thrilling Triumphs in 2019
Kasia maintained her amazing consistency in 2019. She finished on the podium at Strade Bianche once more, taking third place. Her biggest highlight of the spring came at the Amstel Gold Race in the Netherlands.
On the final climb up the famous Cauberg hill, Kasia attacked with power. She dropped the pack and rode with former teammate Marianne Vos. Kasia then sprinted ahead on the flat road to the finish. Superstar Annemiek van Vleuten chased furiously behind her. Kasia gritted her teeth and crossed the line just inches ahead.
Next, Kasia rode in The Women's Tour. On stage four, she sped up the Burton Dassett Hills to defeat German racer Liane Lippert. Kasia ended the race in second place overall, just two seconds behind Lizzie Deignan. Kasia still earned the black jersey as the best climber.
At the Giro Rosa, her team won the opening team time trial. Kasia crossed the line first in Castellania Coppi and pulled on the leader's pink jersey. She defended the pink jersey bravely across several days. She concluded the Giro in fifth place overall. She also finished fourth at the Ladies Tour of Norway.
Racing Through Challenges from 2020 to 2022
The 2020 cycling season was altered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite limited races, Kasia kept her fitness sharp. At the European Road Championships in Plouay, France, she sprinted to a bronze medal.
Two days later, she placed fourth at La Course by Le Tour de France. At the Giro Rosa, Kasia delivered another masterclass in stage racing. She stood on the podium nearly every afternoon and finished second overall behind Anna van der Breggen. She also placed seventh at the World Championships road race.
In 2021, Kasia secured second place at Dwars door Vlaanderen. She placed second again at La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. She represented Poland at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing fourteenth in the road race. Later in Belgium, Kasia attacked constantly around Leuven. Her brave moves earned her an individual bronze medal at the World Championships road race.
In 2022, Kasia took second place at the Brabantse Pijl behind Demi Vollering. At The Women's Tour, she finished third overall behind Grace Brown and Elisa Longo Borghini. In July, the modern Tour de France Femmes was held. Kasia rode with the best climbers in the world and finished third overall on the final podium.
Conquering the Gravel World in 2023
Kasia remained among the world's finest riders throughout 2023. She took fourth at the Amstel Gold Race and fifth at the Tour of Flanders. She stepped onto the podium at Itzulia Women, finishing third behind Marlen Reusser and Demi Vollering.
At the Tour de France Femmes, Kasia fought hard in the high mountains. She repeatedly broke away on giant climbs. Her aggressive style earned her the coveted polka-dot jersey as the Queen of the Mountains. She stood on the overall race podium in third place for the second straight year.
In October, Kasia entered the 2023 UCI Gravel World Championships in Veneto, Italy. Gravel racing takes place on unpaved dirt and rocky roads. With 25 kilometers remaining, Kasia launched a powerful solo attack. She left Italy's Silvia Persico and Vollering behind in a cloud of dust. Kasia crossed the finish line completely alone. She pulled on the prestigious rainbow jersey as world champion.
The Historic 2024 Tour de France Victory
The 2024 season was the most historic chapter of Kasia's racing career. In the spring, she finished second at the Tour of Flanders. She then tackled the steep slopes of the Mur de Huy to win La Flèche Wallonne Féminine. This was her first World Tour road win in nearly five years.
At the Paris Olympics, Kasia rode in the road race. Despite being delayed by a crash involving Chloé Dygert and Elise Chabbey, she fought hard and finished eighth.
In August, Kasia lined up for the Tour de France Femmes. She took the yellow leader's jersey after stage four. On the final stage up the legendary mountain Alpe d'Huez, defending champion Demi Vollering attacked from afar. Kasia dug deep and pedaled with every bit of energy she had left.
Vollering crossed the line first, but Kasia finished close behind. When officials checked the times, Kasia had won the Tour de France by only four seconds. It was the closest finish in the history of the Tour. Kasia wept tears of joy, calling the victory a childhood dream come true.
Successes in 2025 and 2026
Kasia carried her champion form into the 2025 racing season. She finished fourth at both the Tour of Flanders and Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes. In Poland, she reclaimed the national road race championship. She also finished third overall at the Tour de Suisse Women. At the Tour de France Femmes, she finished on the podium in third place overall.
In 2026, Kasia showed her classic strength once again. She took second place at Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Strade Bianche Donne, and the Amstel Gold Race. She also took third at Liège–Bastogne–Liège Femmes.
At the Tour de France Femmes, Kasia rode to an individual stage win atop the mighty Mont Ventoux. She finished second overall in the general classification, earning her fifth consecutive podium finish at the Tour. Weeks later, she earned a silver medal in the road race at the UCI Road World Championships.
Family and Life Off the Bike
Away from the busy racing circuit, Kasia enjoys a quiet and active life. In 2016, she began dating American professional cyclist Taylor Phinney. The two share a love for cycling, art, and exploring the outdoors. They got married in May 2024. Together, they live and train near the mountains in Boulder, Colorado.
Career Highlights and Major Wins
Gravel Racing Victories
- 1st Place, UCI Gravel World Championships (2023)
- 1st Place, Big Sugar Gravel (2023)
Road Racing Triumphs
- 1st Place, Tour de France Femmes General Classification (2024)
- 1st Place, Tour de France Femmes Mountains Classification (2023)
- 1st Place, Tour de France Femmes Stage 7 atop Mont Ventoux (2026)
- 1st Place, The Women's Tour (2017)
- 1st Place, Emakumeen Euskal Bira (2015)
- 1st Place, Grand Prix Elsy Jacobs (2016)
- 1st Place, Giro del Trentino Alto Adige-Südtirol (2016)
- 1st Place, Tour de l'Ardèche (2018)
- 1st Place, Amstel Gold Race (2019)
- 1st Place, Trofeo Alfredo Binda-Comune di Cittiglio (2018)
- 1st Place, La Flèche Wallonne Féminine (2024)
- 1st Place, Polish National Road Race Championships (2016, 2025)
- 1st Place, Polish National Time Trial Championships (2016)
- 1st Place, European Under-23 Road Championship (2015, 2016)
Images for kids
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Kasia competing at the 2014 UCI Road World Championships.
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Kasia talking with fellow champion Lizzie Deignan in 2016.
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Kasia wearing the green points jersey at the 2016 Holland Ladies Tour.
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Kasia on the podium in the young rider classification in 2016.
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Kasia racing up the steep Mur de Huy climb in Belgium.
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Kasia wearing the leader's green jersey at the 2017 The Women's Tour.
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Kasia on the podium as Queen of the Mountains in Norway.
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Kasia climbing hills during the 2019 Women's Tour.
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Kasia celebrating her bronze medal at the 2021 UCI Road World Championships.
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Kasia at the start of the Amstel Gold Race.
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Kasia riding in the yellow jersey during her historic win at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes.
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See also
In Spanish: Katarzyna Niewiadoma para niños
