Marijn de Vries criticises Gery after Niewiadoma incident: ‘There is zero respect’

Stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes unexpectedly turned into a spectacular day of racing. Demi Vollering won a stage that the organisers had classified as flat and also took the yellow jersey from Kasia Niewiadoma. The Pole was furious, however, claiming that Célia Gery had deliberately impeded her. Former professional cyclist and analyst Marijn de Vries believes the incident reflects a wider pattern within the peloton.

Vollering accelerated on an incredibly tough short climb inside the final seven kilometres. Niewiadoma was initially able to follow, but cracked when Vollering accelerated for a second time. The gap was still small at the top, but the Dutchwoman extended her advantage on the flat and completed a phenomenal double by winning the stage and taking yellow. Niewiadoma, riding on the wheel of Elisa Longo Borghini, conceded eighteen seconds.

But what happened before and during Vollering’s attack was initially missing from the television footage. Niewiadoma accused Gery, who had just finished her turn on the front, of deliberately blocking her as Vollering launched her move. “You can see that it’s very tight in that corner,” De Vries analysed for Sporza. “Gery drops back and moves slightly towards the outside. Niewiadoma is there. She drifts slightly out of the corner.”

That left Niewiadoma boxed in behind Gery. She had to steer around the Frenchwoman, but by then Vollering had already opened a gap of several metres and was going full gas. The Polish rider was forced to make an enormous effort to close it. “Most people said they hadn’t seen it, but these are the moments when riders are fighting for position in the peloton.”

Was it deliberate? De Vries stopped short of making that accusation directly, but she was highly critical of the atmosphere within the peloton. In her view, riders are becoming increasingly aggressive and are giving each other less and less room. “There is zero respect. Everyone just does whatever they want. Nobody is surprised that something like this happens. I don’t get the impression that Gery touched Niewiadoma, but these are little tricks that happen. It’s not very sporting.”

These kinds of moves have become fairly common in the peloton. “This happens often in a race,” said the former professional rider, although she stressed the significance of the moment in this particular case. “Of course, this is a crucial moment, and I do think it’s important that the yellow jersey should command a certain amount of respect. You have to give her space. I don’t think what Gery does here is particularly sporting.”