Katarzyna Niewiadoma secured her first women's Tour de France title on Sunday, winning by just four seconds on the gruelling final Alpine climb. The reigning champion, Demi Vollering, tried to snatch the title on the final stage, which ended on the iconic Alpe d'Huez.

Vollering, last year's winner, did everything she could to overtake Niewiadoma, setting the stage for a nail-biting duel between the Dutch and the Poles on the 13.8 kilometre climb up the legendary mountain with its 21 famous hairpin bends.

The 29-year-old Canyon-SRAM rider reached the summit of the imposing Alpe d'Huez one minute and one second behind stage winner Demi Vollering, but maintained her lead in the yellow jersey.

"It's crazy to be honest, the whole stage was such a wild rollercoaster," said an emotional Niewiadoma.

"I went through such a terrible time on that climb, I hated everything, and then to get to the finish line and realise I've won the Tour de France, it's just crazy! It's overwhelming," said the Limanowa native, who was born on 29 September 1994.

The Tour took an unexpected turn on Thursday's fifth stage when Vollering was involved in a serious crash six kilometres from the finish in Amneville, losing 1:47 on the leader.

However, the Dutchwoman fought back to reduce the gap to one minute 15 seconds by the final stage.

Reigning Tour champion Vollering then put in an impressive performance in Sunday's 150km stage from Le Grand-Bornand to Alpe d'Huez, outsprinting compatriot Pauliena Rooijakkers to take the stage win.

Niewiadoma struggled on the Glandon climb and looked set to lose her lead as her rival surged ahead, briefly taking the general classification lead at various points.

However, the Polish rider was able to regroup and fight back in the final 5km to gain valuable seconds.

Both Vollering and Niewiadoma experienced tense moments as they crossed the line, anxiously awaiting official confirmation of who would retain the yellow jersey in the third edition of the women's Tour de France.

Both riders broke down in tears upon hearing the news, but with contrasting emotions as it became clear that Niewiadoma had secured a historic victory by the narrowest of margins.

After finishing third in the previous two editions of the Tour and a disappointing eighth in the road race at the 2024 Olympic Games, this victory was particularly sweet for Niewiadoma.

"I think last year's third place was a prelude to this win, and the same goes for two weeks ago when I was so frustrated to be involved in a crash during the Olympics," said the 2018 Canyon-SRAM Racing team member.

"I feel like all the stars aligned for my team and me this week," concluded Niewiadoma, who finished the eight-stage tour in 24 hours, 36 minutes and 07 seconds, just four seconds ahead of Vollering, with Rooijakkers just six seconds further back in third.

"This is one of the greatest achievements in Polish sport. Bad luck at the Olympics, now a bit of luck, but above all skill," wrote Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk on X.