‘Célia would never ride anyone into the barriers’ - FDJ responds to Niewiadoma accusations after Tour Femmes clash

Niewiadoma lost the yellow jersey to Demi Vollering on stage 8 after the Dutchwoman attacked on the final steep climb with 6.5 kilometres remaining. 

Vollering eventually reached the finish 17 seconds ahead of Niewiadoma and Elisa Longo Borghini, enough to turn a 15 second deficit into an eight second lead in the general classification.

But the racing itself was only part of the story.

Niewiadoma claimed after the finish that Gery had deliberately closed her towards the barriers at the foot of the decisive climb, forcing her to stop pedalling. She also confronted the Frenchwoman directly, asking whether the manoeuvre had been “part of the plan.”

According to Boom, part of it was.

The FDJ United-Suez sports director explained that Gery had been instructed to stay on Vollering’s wheel until after a crucial corner, before allowing a gap to open when her leader launched her attack.

“The plan was for Célia to stay in Demi’s wheel until after the corner,” Boom told WielerFlits after the finish. “Then, when Demi went, she had to calmly let the gap open. I think that is a very good idea, and I think that is what happened.”

Boom stressed, however, that there had been no instruction to impede Niewiadoma or push her towards the barriers.

“Célia says, ‘I didn’t do anything wrong,’” he said. “We need to look back at it properly, but it is not in Célia’s nature to ride somebody into the barriers. She would never do that.”

Niewiadoma had been scathing in her assessment immediately after the stage. The Canyon//SRAM rider accused Gery of deliberately blocking her and said she had “lost all the respect” for FDJ United-Suez as a result.

Boom was reluctant to become involved in a war of words so soon after the finish.

“I think it is too early to say something about that,” he said when informed of Niewiadoma’s comments.

In the post stage press conference, Vollering addressed the incident, saying she had not seen what happened.

"I don't know what happened, I didn't see anything. I just saw what was in front of me, and it was nothing, just black for eyes," Vollering said.

"I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose, and I think also Kasia knows deep in her heart that that kind of thing just happens sometimes in racing.

"It's the shit part of racing and also the tricky part of racing. So yeah, I mean, I cannot say too much about that."

The change in the general classification also changes the equation for FDJ United-Suez ahead of the final stage, although Boom suggested his team would not suddenly adopt an entirely defensive approach.

“You just have to discuss properly what you are going to do,” he said. “Yesterday we had 15 seconds to make up and now, if I have it right, we are eight seconds ahead. So we have to see what we are going to do.”

Stage 9 takes place around Nice and features four ascents of the Col d’Èze, making for a demanding final day with little respite. The repeated climbing should give Niewiadoma several opportunities to put Vollering under pressure, with just eight seconds separating them at the start.

That sets up another final day battle between Vollering and Niewiadoma. In 2024, Niewiadoma beat Vollering to overall victory in the Tour de France Femmes by just four seconds.

This time, Vollering starts the final stage with an eight second advantage.

“Eight seconds is of course not much,” Boom said. “We’ll make a good plan tonight.”