On Friday 17 April, Célia Gery won the 9th edition of the Flèche Brabançonne. At just 20 years of age, the French rider secured her first professional victory following a controlled sprint finish in Overijse.
The outcome of this year’s race remained uncertain right up until the final few hundred metres. Following an early breakaway by ten riders, the duo of Loes Adegeest (Lidl-Trek) and Anneke Dijkstra (VolkerWessels) took the lead, building a gap of up to 1 minute 30 seconds.
Behind her, the race began to take shape, driven by Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime). The Dutch rider broke away 27 kilometres from the finish to join the front of the race, looking set for a solo victory.
The chase lacked coordination for a long time, but the team’s efforts kept the pressure on. In the final kilometre, a lack of coordination among the breakaway riders allowed the peloton to catch up just before the final sprint.
Taking advantage of the bunch, Célia Gery opted to launch her sprint from a distance. On a slightly uphill finish that suited her strengths, she held off a late challenge from the defending Amstel Gold Race champion, Mischa Bredewold, right to the line. Italy’s Silvia Persico completed the podium.
Final result :
- Célia Gery (FDJ UNITED-Suez)
- Mischa Bredewold (SD Worx-Protime) m.t.
- Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ) m.t.