Gery sprints to victory at Brabantse Pijl
Celia Gery claimed victory at the Brabantse Pijl. Breakaway riders Anna van der Breggen and Loes Adegeest were caught with one kilometre to go, after which the French rider beat Mischa Bredewold and Silvia Persico in a sprint finish.
Under a bright sun, the peloton rolled out from the market square in Lennik. Despite the fine weather, the riders were in no hurry to launch early attacks. It wasn’t until the Chemin dit le Bois, the fourth climb of the day, that the early breakaway was formed. With 95 kilometres remaining, ten riders went on the offensive, including former winner Silvia Persico (UAE Team ADQ). FDJ United – Suez were the only favourites’ team to miss the move and were forced to lead the chase.
The breakaway’s story was short‑lived. After the first ascent of the Holstheide, everything regrouped. Loes Adegeest (Lidl‑Trek), who had also been part of the leading ten, refused to give in and set off alone. At the top of the first passage of the Hertstraat, she was joined by Anneke Dijkstra (VolkerWessels Cycling Team), with whom she had previously ridden together.
After the first passage of the Moskesstraat, the pace dropped in the peloton, allowing the lead of the two front riders to grow to one and a half minutes. Britt Knaven (Citymesh – CUSTOMM Pro Cycling Team) attempted to bridge across, but without success. On the second ascent of the Moskesstraat, Anna van der Breggen (Team SD Worx – Protime) increased the tempo in the peloton. On the next climb, the Holstheide, Franziska Koch (FDJ United – Suez) launched a sharp attack that reduced the peloton to around 25 riders.
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At the top of the Holstheide, Van der Breggen went clear alone. Persico sensed the danger and tried to bridge to the former world champion, but could not immediately close the gap. On the way to the penultimate ascent of the S‑Bocht Overijse, Van der Breggen joined Adegeest and Dijkstra at the front, while Persico lingered about twenty seconds behind.
On the final ascent of the Moskesstraat, Van der Breggen accelerated again. Dijkstra was forced to drop, while Adegeest held on. She even survived another attack by Van der Breggen on the Holstheide. Realising she could not drop Adegeest, the former world champion stopped contributing.
Just before the S‑Bocht Overijse, the two leaders were caught. A peloton of around thirty riders contested the sprint for victory. France’s Celia Gery (FDJ United – Suez) proved fastest, ahead of Mischa Bredewold (Team SD Worx – Protime) and Silvia Persico.
