De Brabantse Pijl Women: Breakthrough for Célia Gery as Frenchwoman clinches first pro win in small group sprint
20-year-old racer finishes narrowly ahead of Mischa Bredewold
20-year-old Célia Gery (FDJ United-SUEZ) surprised the favourites to take her first professional victory at De Brabantse Pijl Women 2026, launching an early sprint before narrowly pipping Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) to the line in Overijse on Friday.
A two-rider break of Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) led until the final 1.4km after the former had been part of two early breakaways and the latter had bridged across in the final 30km.
But they stopped cooperating after Van der Breggen failed to drop her Dutch compatriot over the final time up the Moskesstraat climb and what had been around a minute advantage quickly evaporated approaching the final S-Bocht climb to the line.
SD Worx were still well-positioned with numbers, with both Bredewold and Lotte Kopecky being options for the final sprint. But as the group swelled into the final few hundred metres, Gery took her moment and surged off the front, looking back several times as she did it, but with enough power to just hold off the charging Dutch rider. Silvia Persico (UAE ADQ) was third on the day.
I began my sprint really far from the finish, but it was good, so I'm really happy. The girls did a really good job to close the gap to those in front, so I'm really proud of them," said Gery at the finish.
"They did a huge amount of work. Franzi Koch told us before the race that we can win with all of the riders today, which is amazing for a team. It was a perfect finish for me; we have a great team with riders helping each other out at every race.
"I tried to get on the wheels of the sprinters, but saw a gap on the left. My DS even told me to go a bit later. It was close, but enough."
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How it unfolded
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.
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.
Results
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 |
James Moultrie is a gold-standard NCTJ journalist who joined Cyclingnews as a News Writer in 2023 after originally contributing as a freelancer for eight months, during which time he also wrote for Eurosport, Rouleur and Cycling Weekly. Prior to joining the team he reported on races such as Paris-Roubaix and the Giro d’Italia Donne for Eurosport and has interviewed some of the sport’s top riders in Chloé Dygert, Lizzie Deignan and Wout van Aert. Outside of cycling, he spends the majority of his time watching other sports – rugby, football, cricket, and American Football to name a few.
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