'I was strong enough to win' - Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney upset to miss Strade Bianche victory again

Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney of Canyon-SRAM once again found herself on the second step of the Strade Bianche podium this past Saturday, marking her fourth silver medal at the Tuscan classic. Despite a powerful performance where she felt "strong enough to win," the Polish rider was ultimately outmaneuvered, expressing frustration with a career trajectory that often sees her just shy of victory. Her stated desire is clear: "I don’t want to carry on with my career being second or third, I want to be winning."

This recurring near-miss at Strade Bianche highlights a persistent theme in Niewiadoma-Phinney's career, a rider consistently among the sport's elite but often lacking that final, decisive punch. Her impressive palmarès includes a Flèche Wallonne victory and a Giro Donne stage, yet the iconic one-day races frequently see her in the top five, but rarely the top spot. For a rider of her calibre, these repeated second-place finishes at a race she clearly targets are not just frustrating, but indicative of a mental hurdle she must overcome to truly cement her legacy.

Indeed, the cycling world has long acknowledged Niewiadoma-Phinney's prodigious talent. The next step, however, is not merely to be strong enough, but to translate that strength into the win when it matters most.