'Sometimes you just mentally crack' – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney falls short of own expectations on La Vuelta Femenina stage 6 climbing test

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney faced a challenging day on stage 6 of La Vuelta Femenina 2026, falling short of her own expectations during the demanding climb to Les Praeres. Despite entering the final ascent well positioned and initially keeping pace with race leader Anna van der Breggen, the steep gradients—averaging 13.5% with sections reaching 20%—proved too much. Niewiadoma-Phinney admitted to "exploding early," leading to a significant drop in performance and a tenth-place finish, over a minute behind the stage winner. The Polish rider, who had been considered a favourite for the overall podium, now finds herself sixth in the general classification, trailing van der Breggen by 1 minute and 25 seconds. This gap, while notable, is not insurmountable given the race’s brutal concluding stage. Niewiadoma-Phinney acknowledged the mental strain of the day, describing the experience as a moment where she "mentally cracked," highlighting the psychological as well as physical demands of such a punishing climb. Looking ahead, the race remains wide open, with the decisive stage 7 promising an even more formidable challenge. The final day features the notorious Alto de L'Angliru, a 12.4km climb averaging 9.7% gradient, with the last 6km ramping up to an average of 13% and peaks of 24%. This Asturian ascent is expected to shake up the standings further, offering riders like Niewiadoma-Phinney a chance to recover lost time or, conversely, to fall further behind. Despite the setback, Niewiadoma-Phinney remains focused on the task ahead, viewing stage 6 as a prelude to the ultimate test. Her candid reflections underscore the brutal nature of women’s professional cycling and the resilience required to compete at the highest level. With the podium still undecided, the final climb promises to deliver a dramatic conclusion to this year’s La Vuelta Femenina.