FDJ condemn death threats against Célia Gery after Niewiadoma Tour Femmes clash
Célia Gery has received death threats on social media following the controversy surrounding the finale of stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes, according to FDJ United Suez-sports director Lars Boom.
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The young French champion found herself at the centre of a heated debate on Saturday after Kasia Niewiadoma accused her of deliberately blocking her against the barriers moments before Demi Vollering launched the attack that ultimately moved her into the yellow jersey.
FDJ defended Gery after the stage, with Boom insisting she would never intentionally ride another rider into the barriers. Speaking to Sporza ahead of Sunday’s final stage, he revealed that the reaction online had since taken a far more disturbing turn.
“I think it is very unpleasant for Célia,” Boom told Sporza. “I have seen the video footage and I don’t see much in it. She still leaves space.
“She is being completely torn apart on social media and she is receiving death threats. I think that is a real shame.”
Despite the abuse, Boom said the 20-year-old Gery was mentally ready to race the final stage around Nice.
“She is ready to fight today, just as she has been doing all week,” he said.
The controversy began after stage 8, when Niewiadoma confronted Gery shortly after the finish and asked the Frenchwoman directly whether the move had been “part of the plan”.
Speaking to the media afterwards, Niewiadoma accused Gery of deliberately moving across and pinning her towards the barriers at the foot of the climb where Vollering would eventually make her winning move.
“I was super annoyed at the beginning of the climb because Gery on purpose just blocked me to the barriers where I had to stop pedalling,” Niewiadoma said.
The Polish rider described the manoeuvre as “childish” and said she had “lost all the respect” for FDJ United-Suez as a result.
Boom subsequently confirmed that Gery had been given a tactical role in Vollering’s attack. The Frenchwoman was supposed to remain on her leader’s wheel until after a corner before allowing the gap to open once Vollering accelerated, but he firmly rejected the suggestion that impeding Niewiadoma had been part of the instruction.
Vollering herself said she had not seen the incident, adding that she was sure her teammate had not acted deliberately.
Final battle awaits Vollering and FDJ
Despite holding yellow, Boom suggested FDJ would not simply try to defend that advantage on a demanding final day featuring four ascents of the Col d’Èze.
“Dare to win, that is the plan,” he said. “There is still a beautiful Tour stage ahead of us and it really suits Demi.
“Obviously we have to keep an eye on Kasia, but on the steep climbs you can see that Demi might be the strongest rider in the peloton.”
With temperatures also expected to play a role, Boom believes managing the heat could be decisive in determining the winner.
"The rider who can handle the heat best and keep cooling herself will win this Tour, in my opinion.”
Vollering and Niewiadoma are separated by just eight seconds ahead of their latest final day showdown. Two years ago, Niewiadoma famously defeated Vollering by only four seconds to win the Tour de France Femmes.
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