Celia Gery won the European cyclocross championship while awaiting surgery: 'It'll be a new beginning'
Cyclocross
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Follow us on GoogleCelia Gery won the European Cyclocross Championship in the U23 category on Sunday. However, this brought her cyclocross season to an end in early November, as the top French talent is scheduled to undergo surgery soon for a narrowed femoral artery. Speaking candidly to IDL Pro Cycling in Zeddam, Gery discussed her injury and the surgery she is set to undergo.
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Celia Gery was the strongest in the Netherlands
Celia Gery is considered the female Paul Seixas
The 20-year-old Frenchwoman has been considered one of the world’s greatest talents for several years now, and her rise to the top has been eventful so far. She became a world champion in the junior ranks both on the road and in cyclocross, and her transition to the professional ranks went smoothly in both categories.
Gery has already won races this year, including the Brabantse Pijl, the French National Championship, and a stage in the Giro d'Italia, and she also played a key role in Demi Vollering’s victory at the Tour de France Femmes.
Although she was officially still eligible to compete in the U23 category at the World Championships in Montreal, she finished seventh among the best women in the world.
So in Zeddam, she did compete in the under-23 category—and with success. Gery topped an all-French podium alongside Lison Desprez and Amandine Muller, despite the fact that she can’t generate as much power with one leg as with the other.
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Celia Gery won the European Cyclocross Championship in the women's U23 category.
Interview with Celia Gery after the European Cyclocross Championships
Celia, what can you tell us about the French dominance?
“It was really great. The two of us found our rhythm quickly and were able to ride the race together. That’s how we were able to open up a gap, because we knew we had to work together. In the end, I was just a little better. It’s truly fantastic—it’s a wonderful day for us as a French team.”
“It was really great. The two of us found our rhythm quickly and were able to ride the race together. That’s how we were able to open up a gap, because we knew we had to work together. In the end, I was just a little better. It’s truly fantastic—it’s a wonderful day for us as a French team.”
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What’s it like to perform at this level with major surgery coming up?
"Well, it wasn't easy to manage. The start of the race was very tough, and the last few weeks were also physically demanding in terms of training. That's why it's especially nice and a relief to win, right before my surgery. It feels really good, although of course there’s also a bit of sadness that it’s coming to an end here for now.'
"Well, it wasn't easy to manage. The start of the race was very tough, and the last few weeks were also physically demanding in terms of training. That's why it's especially nice and a relief to win, right before my surgery. It feels really good, although of course there’s also a bit of sadness that it’s coming to an end here for now.'
Are you also looking forward to the surgery, hoping that you’ll be able to make a fresh start afterward?
“Yeah, yeah, I sure hope so. Either way, I don’t have a choice. But I do hope that after this surgery, it’ll be a new beginning, as they so nicely put it.”
“Yeah, yeah, I sure hope so. Either way, I don’t have a choice. But I do hope that after this surgery, it’ll be a new beginning, as they so nicely put it.”
Read more below the photo!
Celia Gery won a stage in the Giro d'Italia.
Last week you couldn’t even finish the race on the Koppenberg, and now you’re winning here. What changed in that week, and what exactly happened on the Koppenberg?
“That was a really tough race, and my leg just wasn’t cooperating. It hurt too much. So this week, I tried to train based on how I felt, in my own way. I wanted to ride this last race—or well, I don’t even know yet if this was really the very last one before the surgery.”
“That was a really tough race, and my leg just wasn’t cooperating. It hurt too much. So this week, I tried to train based on how I felt, in my own way. I wanted to ride this last race—or well, I don’t even know yet if this was really the very last one before the surgery.”
"But it was mainly to treat myself one last time and give it my all. The course here had quite a few turns. Since the two of us were out in front, we were able to control the race our own way; that made it easier to manage and definitely helped."
This year, you’ve already won the Brabantse Pijl, the French National Championship, and a stage in the Giro, among other races. Did you notice your injury back then?
“I started feeling the first symptoms after my return following the French National Championship, sometime around mid-July. Before that, my road season had actually been going incredibly well. I was in better shape than I’d ever been before, and I was really happy about that. It wasn’t until after that that the problems started.”
“I started feeling the first symptoms after my return following the French National Championship, sometime around mid-July. Before that, my road season had actually been going incredibly well. I was in better shape than I’d ever been before, and I was really happy about that. It wasn’t until after that that the problems started.”
The surgery inevitably brings with it a certain amount of anxiety. Do you draw strength from examples of cyclists like Marianne Vos and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot, who successfully returned to competition after going through a similar process?
“Well, I think surgery always brings some anxiety, for everyone. But I do know there are good examples, like Marianne, Pauline, and many other riders who have returned to their former level.”
“Well, I think surgery always brings some anxiety, for everyone. But I do know there are good examples, like Marianne, Pauline, and many other riders who have returned to their former level.”
"On the other hand, there are, of course, those who didn't succeed, and that's always scary. But I'll just have to take my chances."
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Tom van der Salm (27) comes from the charming town of Zeilberg (Deurne) in the Netherlands and has been working as editor-in-chief & journalist at IDL Pro Cycling's parent site, In de Leiderstrui, since 2019. He travels with the peloton from the Tour de France to the AlUla Tour and from the World Championships in Rwanda or Canada to the Zilvermeercross in Mol. In his spare time he enjoys playing football, mountain biking, running, walking with his Labrador/Stabyhoun, investing, holidays, (specialty) beers, reading, cooking and watching sports & documentaries!
Contact: [email protected]
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