Célia Géry Makes Her Tour Debut in the French Champion’s Jersey

Montbrison – 06.08.2026: Wearing the blue, white and red jersey of the French champion, Célia Géry will contest the sixth stage of the Tour de France Femmes this Thursday. For the 20-year-old FDJ United-SUEZ rider, it is her first start in the most important stage race in women’s cycling. The 153.4-kilometre route runs from Montbrison to Tournon-sur-Rhône, taking in her home region of Ardèche.

A gentle welcome for the debutant is hardly to be expected. Several climbs come in the first part of the stage. The biggest challenge is the Col de Lalouvesc, which is 8.6 kilometres long with an average gradient of five percent. The route then follows narrow, rolling roads near Saint-Félicien towards the Rhône Valley. The profile favours breakaway riders, but also gives general classification contenders opportunities to attack.

Géry has significantly accelerated her rise to the international elite this season. On 27 June, she won the French road championship in La Tour-du-Pin. At the Giro d’Italia Women, she had already claimed a stage in Salice Terme, defeating the far more experienced Lucinda Brand. Within a few months, she thus developed from an outstanding young rider into a force to be reckoned with in the WorldTour peloton.

Her sporting roots lie in cyclocross, which demands technical confidence, the ability to assert oneself in the crowd and repeated explosive efforts. In January 2026, Géry became French elite champion in the discipline in Troyes. She also often seeks to go on the offensive on the road. Her rapid acceleration and sense for favourable race situations make her valuable to FDJ United-SUEZ, even though she is riding her first Tour.

The division of roles within the team is nevertheless clear. The French squad is racing with Demi Vollering as a contender for the overall victory. Géry is expected to keep the Dutch team leader in position ahead of the climbs, protect her in demanding terrain and respond to dangerous groups. At the same time, she can go on the offensive herself on rolling sections, provided that the general classification situation allows it.

For Géry, who comes from Talencieux, riding through the Ardèche carries special significance. However, the familiar roads are more of a test than a home race: those who still have reserves after the Col de Lalouvesc can have a decisive influence on the finale. The champion’s jersey makes the young Frenchwoman easy to spot in the peloton. Alongside her rides a team with ambitions for the yellow jersey; behind her already lie national titles on the road and in cyclocross, as well as a stage victory at the Giro d’Italia Women.