Lars Boom explains Gery-Niewiadoma incident: ‘Célia had to stay on Vollering’s wheel until she attacked’

Lars Boom has explained to several media outlets that Célia Gery’s role in the finale of Stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes was part of FDJ United-SUEZ’s plan. The young French rider has come under fire after forcing yellow jersey wearer Kasia Niewiadoma (CANYON//SRAM) toward the barriers in a corner. Boom, however, stood firmly behind his team afterwards.

Boom received praise for his work as Vollering’s team manager, but the Dutchman was also extremely proud afterwards of the riders who executed the plan. “It was a perfect ride from the team. All the riders went into overdrive from the penultimate climb. That’s what we wanted to see from them. We had 15 seconds to make up, so you can’t afford to leave it all to a sprint,” he told Eurosport.

Boom was willing to spell out FDJ’s entire plan. “Franziska Koch went full gas exactly where she needed to, then Juliette Berthet took over. Célia Gery had to stay with them over the top and, in the final corner before the steep section, switch positions with Demi. That already gives you two or three metres on Kasia because there is another rider in between. That was the plan, and from there Demi went full gas.”

Confronted with Niewiadoma’s angry comments, in which she claimed Gery had deliberately ridden her toward the barriers, Boom shrugged it off. “I know Célia as a person and she would never ride someone into the barriers. Célia’s job was to switch positions with Demi just before the corner, and that’s what she did. From there, she had to stay on Demi’s wheel until Demi attacked.”

Boom stressed that, at the time of the interviews, he had not yet seen the footage above, but said: “One of our basic values is not that you can ride someone off the road, and Kasia knows that too.” Speaking to NOS, the Dutch team manager added: “Célia said she did nothing wrong, and I believe my riders.”

Boom felt it was only logical that Gery should be sitting in second position when Vollering launched her attack. Niewiadoma, in the yellow jersey, had to be forced onto the defensive. “As far as I’m concerned, that’s simply race tactics and smart riding, although Kasia will probably have been startled by it.”