'I had to stay fresh in the head and keep my nerve, but that's it, I've done it' –20-year-old Célia Gery wins stage 7 of the Giro d'Italia Women

Célia Gery, the 20-year-old FDJ United-SUEZ rider, claimed her first professional victory by winning stage seven of the Giro d’Italia Women. After a daring descent, Gery out-sprinted Lucinda Brand and Chantal Pegolo to secure the win on the 159km route from Sorbolo Mezzani to Salice Terme. The stage was marked by a breakaway group led by Italians Gaia Segato and Chantal Pegolo, but the decisive moment came on the descent following the day’s only classified climb, Pietragavina, where Gery’s tactical acumen and nerves of steel propelled her to victory. The race featured notable incidents, including a crash involving race leader Anna van der Breggen and Marlen Reusser, though van der Breggen retained the overall leader’s pink jersey. GC contender Elisa Longo Borghini exerted significant effort in a late breakaway attempt but ultimately gained little, conserving energy ahead of the coming stages. Meanwhile, Demi Vollering played a key strategic role by instructing her FDJ-SUEZ teammates to refrain from chasing, a move that helped set up Gery’s triumph. Gery, who is also the reigning UCI Junior World Champion in road racing and under-23 European cyclo-cross champion, described the final moments as chaotic but emphasised the importance of maintaining composure. “I had to stay fresh in the head and keep my nerve,” she said, reflecting on her approach during the descent and sprint finish. Her victory highlights her growing potential in the professional ranks and represents a significant milestone early in her career. The stage results have left the general classification largely unchanged, with van der Breggen maintaining her lead, followed closely by Vollering and Antonia Niedermaier. The race continues to unfold with several challenging stages ahead, promising further tactical battles and opportunities for riders like Gery to make their mark. This breakthrough win could signal the emergence of a new contender in women’s professional cycling as the Giro d’Italia Women progresses.