'It gives me extra motivation to work harder' - Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney turns attention to La Vuelta Femenina after podium performance at Liège-Bastogne-Liège

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-SRAM) recently secured a hard-fought third place at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes, marking her first podium finish in a Women's WorldTour one-day race this season. The Polish champion, known for her consistent top-tier performances, expressed relief at avoiding her familiar fourth-place curse, stating it provided "extra motivation" as she now pivots her focus towards the upcoming La Vuelta Femenina.

This podium at Liège is particularly significant for Niewiadoma-Phinney, who has a history of strong but often just-off-the-podium finishes in major Classics, including multiple fourth-place results at *La Doyenne* itself. Her consistency is undeniable, yet a major one-day victory has remained elusive. This result, therefore, serves as a crucial confidence boost and a tangible reward for her aggressive racing style, setting a positive tone for her Grand Tour ambitions in Spain.

After years of knocking on the door, a podium at a Monument is a welcome, if not entirely surprising, development. Now, the question remains whether this momentum can finally translate into that elusive Grand Tour stage win or even a high overall classification that her talent clearly warrants.