De Brabantse Pijl Women: breakthrough for Célia Gery as Frenchwoman clinches first pro win in small group sprint

Racing kicked off early on Friday morning at the women’s Brabantse Pijl from Lennik, with 125km and three laps of a punchy finishing circuit separating the field from the line in Overijse.

A 10-rider breakaway formed after around 25km of racing, with Alexandra Volstad (EF Education-Oatly), Nicole Steigenga (AG Insurance-Soudal), Carina Schrempf(Fenix-Premier Tech, Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek), Appleton Talia Appleton, Ella Wyllie (both Liv AlUla Jayco), Daniela Hezinová (Picnic PostNL), Steffi Häberlin (SD Worx-Protime), Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) and Anneke Dijkstra (VolkerWessels) getting up the road, but they only led the race for the next 30km.

Determined to stay ahead, Adegeest attacked once more when the bigger group were caught, and Dijkstra countered and bridged the gap to make it a leading duo in front heading into the final 50km.

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Over the first top reps up the Moskesstraat (0.5km at 8.2%), SD Worx-Protime began to put the pressure on, with Lotte Kopecky pulling on the front on the lower slopes both times up.

They were attacked by Paris-Roubaix winner Franzi Koch with 28km to go, but when the pace lulled, Kopecky’s teammate Anna van der Breggen then launched a powerful counter move. She quickly rode solo across to the leaders, making it a trio in the lead with the peloton around a minute in arrears with 23km to race.

UAE ADQ’s Silvia Persico tried valiantly to bridge across solo in response to Van der Breggen’s move, and got within 16 seconds of the leaders, but her efforts just came too late and she soon went backwards.

The peloton had plenty of firepower in it and it swelled in numbers after the climbs, but with Lidl-Trek and SD Worx both having a rider up the road, not everyone was working to try and bring racing back together for a potential sprint.

Van der Breggen pressed on over the final time up the Moskesstraat, and while Dijkstra quickly faded and got dropped, the former World Champion was unable to distance Adegeest. Behind, the current rainbow jersey Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly) was among the riders upping the pace, reducing the deficit to 38 seconds.

Cooperation in front started to fail with neither Van der Breggen nor Adegeest wanting to do the lion’s share of the work, and the counter-attacks continued to be launched in the group behind from UAE, even with SD Worx and Lidl-Trek marking them closely.

Liv AlUla Jayco took control behind, and into the final 4km, Van der Breggen and Adegeest had just 13 seconds of a lead left to defend. They were caught with 1.4km to go and the buildup to the final sprint began.

SD Worx and Lidl-Trek still had numbers, but with the line in sight, it was FDJ’s Celia Gery who took off early and surprised them all, beating Mischa Bredewold and Silvia Persico to the line in Overijse.

Pos

Rider

Time

1

Célia Gery (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ

3:07:29

2

Mischa Bredewold (Ned) SD Worx-Protime

0:0:00

3

Silvia Persico (Ita) UAE Team ADQ

0:0:00

4

Ashleigh Moolman Pasio (RSA) AG Insurance-Soudal

0:0:00

5

Fleur Moors (Bel) Lidl-Trek

0:0:00

6

Millie Couzens (GBr) Fenix-Premier Tech

0:0:00

7

Eline Jansen (Ned) Volkerwessels

0:0:00

8

Letizia Paternoster (Ita) Liv AlUla Jayco

0:0:00

9

Paula Blasi Cairol (Spa) UAE Team ADQ

0:0:00

10

Yara Kastelijn (Ned) Fenix-Premier Tech

0:0:00

11

Loes Adegeest (Ned) Lidl-Trek

0:0:00

12

Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (Can) EF Education-Oatly

0:0:00

13

Karolina Perekitko (Pol) Mayenne Monbana My Pie

0:0:00

14

Karlijn Swinkels (Ned) UAE Team ADQ

0:0:00

15

Sofia Ungerová (Svk) Mat Atom Deweloper Wrocław

0:0:00

16

Ingvild Gåskjenn (Nor) Uno-X Mobility

0:0:00

17

Linda Riedmann (Ger) Lotto-Intermarché

0:0:00

18

Ricarda Bauernfeind (Ger) Lidl-Trek

0:0:00

19

Emilie Fortin (Can) Minimax Cycling Team

0:0:00

20

Audrey de Keersmaeker (Bel) Picnic PostNL

0:0:00

21

Margot Vanpachtenbeke (Bel) Lidl-Trek

0:0:00

22

Noemie Thomson (GBr) Das-Hutchinson

0:0:00

23

Mikayla Harvey (NZl) SD Worx-Protime

0:0:00

24

Isabella Holmgren (Can) Lidl-Trek

0:0:00

25

Lotte Kopecky (Bel) SD Worx-Protime

0:0:00

26

Anna van der Breggen (Ned) SD Worx-Protime

0:0:17

27

Ella Wyllie (NZl) Liv AlUla Jayco

0:0:21

28

Amanda Spratt (Aus) Lidl-Trek

0:0:21

29

Anneke Dijkstra (Ned) Volkerwessels

0:0:34

30

Nienke Vinke (Ned) SD Worx-Protime

0:1:01

31

Talia Appleton (Aus) Liv AlUla Jayco

0:1:04

32

Natalie Quinn (USA) Mayenne Monbana My Pie

0:1:41

33

Cleo Kiekens (Bel) Citymesh – Customm Pro Cycling Team

0:1:43

34

Sofia Arici (Ita) Vini Fantini – Bepink

0:1:43

35

Gaia Segato (Ita) Vini Fantini – Bepink

0:1:43

36

Stina Kagevi (Swe) EF Education-Oatly

0:1:54

37

Steffi Häberlin (Swi) SD Worx-Protime

0:1:54

38

Magdalene Lind (Nor) Hitec Products-Fluid Control

0:1:54

39

Oda Aune Gissinger (Nor) Hitec Products-Fluid Control

0:1:54

40

Malou Eisen (Ned) Volkerwessels

0:1:54

41

Carina Schrempf (Aut) Fenix-Premier Tech

0:1:54

42

Sara Casasola (Ita) Fenix-Premier Tech

0:1:54

43

Laura Molenaar (Ned) Volkerwessels

0:1:54

44

Axelle Dubau-Prevot (Fra) EF Education-Oatly

0:1:54

45

Josie Talbot (Aus) Liv AlUla Jayco

0:1:54

46

Rasa Leleivytė (Ltu) Aromitalia Vaiano

0:2:15

47

Eleonora Camilla Gasparrini (Ita) UAE Team ADQ

0:2:19

48

Laura Lizette Sander (Est) Hitec Products-Fluid Control

0:2:25

49

Lauren Bates (Aus) Minimax Cycling Team

0:2:40

50

Kate Richardson (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team

0:3:06

51

Bodine Vollering (Ned) Volkerwessels

0:3:09

52

Marieke Meert (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché

0:4:06

53

Camilla Rånes Bye (Nor) Minimax Cycling Team

0:4:08

54

Lea Rondel (Fra) Mayenne Monbana My Pie

0:4:11

55

Nadia Hartman (Pol) Mat Atom Deweloper Wrocław

0:4:11

56

Fiona Mangan (Irl) Mayenne Monbana My Pie

0:4:11

57

Alena Ivanchenko (Rus) UAE Team ADQ

0:4:11

58

Alexandra Manly (Aus) AG Insurance-Soudal

0:4:11

59

Anouska Koster (Ned) Uno-X Mobility

0:4:11

60

Urszula Sipko (Pol) Mat Atom Deweloper Wrocław

0:4:11

61

Megan Arens (Ned) Picnic PostNL

0:4:11

62

Britt Knaven (Bel) Citymesh – Customm Pro Cycling Team

0:4:33

63

Amber Kraak (Ned) FDJ United-SUEZ

0:4:38

64

Franziska Koch (Ger) FDJ United-SUEZ

0:4:38

65

Evita Muzic (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ

0:4:38

66

Mackenzie Coupland (Aus) Liv AlUla Jayco

0:6:52

67

Clara Lundmark (Swe) Minimax Cycling Team

0:6:52

68

Nicole Steigenga (Ned) AG Insurance-Soudal

0:6:52

69

Luca Vierstraete (Bel) Ag Insurance Soudal Devo Team

0:6:53

DNF

Anna Flynn (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team

Row 69 – Cell 2

DNF

Quinn Findlay (Aus) Meridian Bikebug

Row 70 – Cell 2

DNF

Inez Cashman (Aus) Meridian Bikebug

Row 71 – Cell 2

DNF

Maja Tracka (Pol) Mat Atom Deweloper Wrocław

Row 72 – Cell 2

DNF

Anna Gaborska (Pol) Mat Atom Deweloper Wrocław

Row 73 – Cell 2

DNF

Karin Soderqvist (Swe) Hitec Products-Fluid Control

Row 74 – Cell 2

DNF

Kirsty Watts (NZl) Meridian Bikebug

Row 75 – Cell 2

DNF

Arabella Blackburn (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team

Row 76 – Cell 2

DNF

Mia Williams (Aus) Meridian Bikebug

Row 77 – Cell 2

DNF

Arianne Holland (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team

Row 78 – Cell 2

DNF

Ellie Parry (GBr) Das-Hutchinson

Row 79 – Cell 2

DNF

Aliyah Rafferty (Irl) Das-Hutchinson

Row 80 – Cell 2

DNF

Lucy Lee (GBr) Das-Hutchinson

Row 81 – Cell 2

DNF

Mieke Docx (Bel) Das-Hutchinson

Row 82 – Cell 2

DNF

April Tacey (GBr) Hitec Products-Fluid Control

Row 83 – Cell 2

DNF

Grace Ward (GBr) O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes

Row 84 – Cell 2

DNF

Vittoria Grassi (Ita) Vini Fantini – Bepink

Row 85 – Cell 2

DNF

Linda Ferrari (Ita) Vini Fantini – Bepink

Row 86 – Cell 2

DNF

Andrea Casagranda (Ita) Vini Fantini – Bepink

Row 87 – Cell 2

DNF

Jo Tindley (GBr) Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team

Row 88 – Cell 2

DNF

Annabel Ramsay (GBr) Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team

Row 89 – Cell 2

DNF

S’annara Grove (RSA) Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team

Row 90 – Cell 2

DNF

Amelie Sanders (Aus) Meridian Bikebug

Row 91 – Cell 2

DNF

Amelia Cebak (GBr) Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team

Row 92 – Cell 2

DNF

Manon de Boer (Ned) Citymesh – Customm Pro Cycling Team

Row 93 – Cell 2

DNF

Yilla Threels (Ned) O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes

Row 94 – Cell 2

DNF

Isabel Mayes (GBr) O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes

Row 95 – Cell 2

DNF

Cindy Pomares (Fra) O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes

Row 96 – Cell 2

DNF

Connie Hayes (GBr) O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes

Row 97 – Cell 2

DNF

Gwen Nothum (Lux) Minimax Cycling Team

Row 98 – Cell 2

DNF

Ursula Lindén (Fin) Minimax Cycling Team

Row 99 – Cell 2

DNF

Paquita Derie (Bel) Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team

Row 100 – Cell 2

DNF

Beth Morrow (GBr) Handsling Alba Development Road Team

Row 101 – Cell 2

DNF

Ilse Grit (Ned) Citymesh – Customm Pro Cycling Team

Row 102 – Cell 2

DNF

Anya Louw (Aus) AG Insurance-Soudal

Row 103 – Cell 2

DNF

Alexandra Volstad (Can) EF Education-Oatly

Row 104 – Cell 2

DNF

Caoimhe O Brien (Irl) EF Education-Oatly

Row 105 – Cell 2

DNF

Mirre Knaven (Ned) EF Education-Oatly

Row 106 – Cell 2

DNF

Sannah Zaman (GBr) O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes

Row 107 – Cell 2

DNF

Eglantine Rayer Girault (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ

Row 108 – Cell 2

DNF

Alicja Matula (Pol) Mat Atom Deweloper Wrocław

Row 109 – Cell 2

DNF

Jade Wiel (Fra) FDJ United-SUEZ

Row 110 – Cell 2

DNF

Lova Dierick (Bel) Citymesh – Customm Pro Cycling Team

Row 111 – Cell 2

DNF

Argyro Milaki (Gre) Aromitalia Vaiano

Row 112 – Cell 2

DNF

Dina Boels (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché

Row 113 – Cell 2

DNF

Dominika Wlodarczyk (Pol) UAE Team ADQ

Row 114 – Cell 2

DNF

Ella Heremans (Bel) Picnic PostNL

Row 115 – Cell 2

DNF

Sonia Rossetti (Ita) Vini Fantini – Bepink

Row 116 – Cell 2

DNF

Hannah Gianatti (Aus) Meridian Bikebug

Row 117 – Cell 2

DNF

Alberte Greve (Den) Uno-X Mobility

Row 118 – Cell 2

DNF

Eleonora la Bella (Ita) Aromitalia Vaiano

Row 119 – Cell 2

DNF

Virginia Iaccarino (Ita) Aromitalia Vaiano

Row 120 – Cell 2

DNF

Fanny Bonini (Ita) Aromitalia Vaiano

Row 121 – Cell 2

DNF

Florien Bolks (Ned) Volkerwessels

Row 122 – Cell 2

DNF

Kiara Lylyk (Can) Mayenne Monbana My Pie

Row 123 – Cell 2

DNF

Sterre Vervloet (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché

Row 124 – Cell 2

DNF

Nina Lavenu (Fra) Ag Insurance Soudal Devo Team

Row 125 – Cell 2

DNF

Mia Gjertsen (Nor) Uno-X Mobility

Row 126 – Cell 2

DNF

Britt de Grave (Ned) Citymesh – Customm Pro Cycling Team

Row 127 – Cell 2

DNF

Becky Storrie (GBr) Picnic PostNL

Row 128 – Cell 2

DNF

Juliana Londoño David (Col) Picnic PostNL

Row 129 – Cell 2

DNF

Daniela Hezinová (Cze) Picnic PostNL

Row 130 – Cell 2

DNF

Matilde Vitillo (Ita) Liv AlUla Jayco

Row 131 – Cell 2

DNF

Eirini Papadimitriou Stampori (Gre) Fenix-Premier Tech Development Team

Row 132 – Cell 2

DNF

Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Ned) Fenix-Premier Tech

Row 133 – Cell 2

DNF

Ilken Seynave (Bel) Lotto-Intermarché

Row 134 – Cell 2