In the aftermath of the eighth stage of the 2026 Tour de France Femmes, tensions escalated between Polish cyclist Kasia Niewiadoma and French rider Célia Gery, a teammate of Dutch cyclist Demi Vollering. Niewiadoma accused Gery of deliberately forcing her into the barriers at the start of the Côte de la Ginestière climb, a move she claimed was intentional and detrimental to her race. This incident occurred at a critical juncture, with Niewiadoma trailing Vollering by a mere eight seconds in the general classification. (as.com)
Vollering, who had been ahead during the incident, was unaware of the specifics but expressed confidence in Gery’s character. She stated, “I have just heard about it in the mixed zone, but I don’t know anything about it. I only saw what was in front of me, and there was no one there. I only saw the black in front of my eyes; for Célia, that was probably the same. She did such a great job on the last climb and the descent.” (as.com)
Former professional cyclist Lars Boom also weighed in on the controversy, suggesting that Gery’s actions were unintentional. He remarked, “Célia has said that she did nothing wrong. I wanted her to stay in the wheel until the corner. If Demi attacked, she should let a gap fall calmly. That is, in my opinion, a good idea. That is what happened. We still have to look at it properly, but it is not in her nature.” (as.com)
Following the stage, Niewiadoma confronted Gery at the finish line, questioning whether the alleged action was part of the team’s strategy. However, Gery did not respond to Niewiadoma’s inquiries. As of now, no footage has emerged to clarify the situation. (as.com)
This incident adds a layer of complexity to the already intense competition in the Tour de France Femmes, highlighting the fine line between aggressive racing tactics and sportsmanship. As the race progresses, all eyes will be on the interactions between these athletes, with the general classification remaining tightly contested.
Highlights:
- Niewiadoma estalla contra el equipo de Vollering: “Perdí el respeto por ellas”, Published on Saturday, August 08
- Vollering incendia el Tour Femenino en Niza: triunfo y liderato a falta de un día, Published on Saturday, August 08