Nice: Niewiadoma-Phinney and Gery incident fuels Tour de France Femmes ethics debate
An incident involving Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney and Célia Gery on stage 8 of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has sparked debate within the cycling community. The event occurred as the peloton approached a critical left-hand bend with approximately 6.5 kilometers remaining in the stage.
According to Niewiadoma-Phinney, Gery, a teammate of Demi Vollering, blocked her into the barriers at the base of the final uncategorized ramp. Niewiadoma-Phinney stated that she had to stop pedaling due to Gery closing the gap she intended to ride into. She expressed frustration, saying, “Gery on purpose just blocked me into the barriers where I had to stop pedalling.” She added, “If they want to compete, they should compete fairly and not look to block me into the barriers, because I felt like it is so childish, and honestly I lost all respect for them for that.”
Vollering defended her teammate, suggesting that Gery likely did not see Niewiadoma-Phinney and did not act intentionally. Vollering commented, “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.”
Lars Boom, manager for FDJ-United Suez, also supported Gery, stating that the rider was following standard racing strategy. Boom mentioned, “Célia says she didn’t do anything wrong. I told her to stay in Demi’s wheel until after the turn and then quietly drop a hole. I think that was a very good idea and I think it happened that way.” He further added that it is not in Gery’s nature to intentionally drive someone into fences.
The incident was initially not fully captured by broadcast cameras, which had a gap at the crucial moment. However, subsequent videos, including one posted to X by “PJ Bouten,” provided additional clarity. This footage shows Vollering leading, with Niewiadoma-Phinney and Gery close behind. Gery, on the inside line, pushed Niewiadoma-Phinney close to the gutter, causing Niewiadoma-Phinney to briefly freewheel and lose Vollering’s wheel.
The UCI‘s video jury reviewed the incident and, as of press time, no action has been taken. The post-race communique did not mention the event. The legality and ethics of Gery’s actions have been widely discussed across various platforms.
Taylor Phinney, Niewiadoma-Phinney’s husband and a former professional cyclist, weighed in on the debate through his Instagram stories. He described Gery’s move as “dirty riding,” comparing it to tactics seen in junior races rather than a major professional event. Phinney wrote, “Is it illegal? I don’t think so. Is it dirty riding? To me, yes. Resembles something petty you would see in a junior race or a parking lot crit, not a move you’d expect from one of the world’s best teams in the biggest bike race of the year.” He acknowledged his bias but maintained his stance, emphasizing the importance of racing with respect.
Despite the controversy, Vollering secured the yellow jersey on Saturday night, placing her just eight seconds ahead of Niewiadoma-Phinney with one stage remaining in the Tour de France Femmes. The debate surrounding the stage 8 incident is expected to continue for months.
Source: escapecollective.com
