History will remember that it was in France, in Besançon, that Célia Gery obtained the first Top 10 of her career in a round of the Elite cyclo-cross World Cup (see ranking). “I didn't really imagine it for my first year. Over the course of the races, I am able to find my place more and more. I feel better and better among the Elites. I’m progressing, I’m gaining experience”appreciates on the microphone of DirectVelo the one who finished 2nd Espoirs, behind Zoé Backstedt.
Once again, the AS Bike Racing member got off to a good start this Sunday on the Malcombe circuit. “It’s an advantage,” notes the European U23 Champion. But you still have to be able to hold on for the fifty minutes of racing. “In the previous World Cup rounds, I started strong but I struggled to cope in the second and third rounds. Whereas there, I tried to channel myself in the first lap even if I had a good first straight line”.
“IT HAD TO KEEP SOME”
The trap was not to get angry in front of an audience committed to his cause. “We had to save some for the whole race and not put ourselves in the red. We could push too much, especially with the encouragement that could push us to burst into flames. There was a lot of crowd to cheer on. It was really nice”.
In Besançon, Célia Gery also appreciated the pitch. “It was my first cross country this muddy of the season, and that’s cool”. The Ardéchoise will now return home for a few days, with the French Championship in the back of her mind. First tricolor in Besançon, just ahead of Hélène Clauzel, she can already claim to have two jerseys in Pontchâteau, one in Espoirs and the other in Elites. But here again the 18-year-old athlete is not the type to get excited. “I would like to do the best possible in my category and we will see what happens next”she smiled.
France
Cycling
