Geerike Schreurs (Staff SD Worx-Protime) resumed a penchant to search out the rostrum at her 2025 gravel season opener this previous weekend, ending second overall at Santa Vall. Her prevalence on the entrance of races was on the verge of monopolisation final yr, incomes 13 high 10s in 14 races, together with a win at The Gralloch and second in a dash end at Unbound Gravel 200.
The 2 days of high-impact, top-notch competitors round Girona was thought of “a superb take a look at” for the Dutch rider, who appeared to not skip a pedal stroke even after six months away from racing and restoration from harm.
She was not solely clean with type to start her sophomore season on gravel but additionally hid technical challenges on the primary day of Santa Vall that might have toppled her end altogether.
“I am completely happy to be again racing. I knew it was a powerful subject and I believe I had a superb begin,” Schreurs mentioned in a post-race video after holding her personal on stage 1 in a dash end in opposition to winner Annika Langvad (Specialised Off-Street) and second-placed Rosa Klöser (Canyon CLLCTV).
“The final 25k to go, I had an issue with my pedal and I could not get in anymore, so I used to be using the final 25km with only one foot within the pedal. On the climbs, it was fairly laborious. I am tremendous completely happy to be again. Trying ahead to the remainder of the season.”
Whereas Langvad secured the GC title on the longer 116.5km stage 2, Geerike put in time to Unbound Gravel 200 champion Klöser and moved into second general to complete the weekend.
Geerike last faced off against Klöser in Emporia, Kansas, which etched significance as the primary time since 2007 that elite ladies had a devoted begin for their very own race, which resulted in a nine-rider dash end. She recalled a sense of each satisfaction and disappointment at Unbound, and set her aim for this yr to go higher, which is only one spot up for a victory.
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“I used to be so near successful. You are still on the rostrum however second looks like first loser. Trying again to it, I might by no means thought that I might end second, particularly as soon as we began the race,” Geerike informed Cyclingnews earlier than her season begin at Santa Vall, then taking a constructive spin.
“In the event you’re second at Unbound, it nearly doesn’t suggest something. Solely those who win get all the eye, which is honest. I might by no means thought I might truly find yourself on the rostrum. However on the identical time, I used to be actually dissatisfied. The following day, I used to be like, subsequent yr, it will be my aim to do even higher.”
Being a part of a Girls’s WorldTour workforce, Schreurs mentioned she’d have the chance to do two Belgian street races in March – GP Oetingen and Nokere Koerse. She mentioned all her low season coaching was on the street, together with the SD Worx-Protime camp, and he or she favored the boldness of being a part of such a stable workforce construction – from tools, vitamin and training.
“The workforce mainly does all of it for me. It is a whole lot of good sponsors and I haven’t got to fret about any of them. In March I’ve the chance to do two street races. It is simply going to be actually attention-grabbing, as a result of, I have not achieved any street races in 11 years. So it is as a lot as I am enthusiastic about it, I am additionally a little bit bit anxious It is a completely different dynamic and I actually wish to race with the workforce. It retains me motivated.”
She’ll proceed to trip the Specialised Crux with Pathfinder Professional tyres at gravel races, and all-in for Unbound Gravel, this time the highest step.
“I’m truly wanting ahead to have Unbound as a aim and to work in the direction of that race like every thing doable. It is also scary to say it out loud, as a result of mainly it places stress on your self, and folks begin to watch you. However however, it is a huge aim so why not converse it out loud? And it is one thing I actually dream of. Everybody can dream, and we’re free to share them with the world as effectively.”
Final yr after Unbound, she stayed within the US to compete at Oregon Path Gravel, ending sixth general on the five-day 350-mile (563km) Gravel Earth Sequence occasion. However she says her endurance is best suited to the lengthy, one-day races, just like the Traka 360, the place she completed second, and The Rift, the place she was third.
“I spotted I must plan a little bit bit completely different. I believe I began with commitments and motivation into racing and it was already new for me, however not realizing how a lot stress it provides in your physique as effectively with all of the travelling,” Geerike admitted.
“I used to be fairly constant, however I used to be not proud of the outcomes. I believe it was only a signal that my physique wanted a break and I used to be very drained. I discovered rather more about my physique and my psychological well being.”
It was in Oregon after Unbound the place her physique informed her she wanted a break, however quickly after she continued with a visit to Iceland and an 11-hour-plus haul at The Rift. Quickly after she had a crash in a bike-packing journey, injuring her bicep in a single arm, and wouldn’t compete on the UCI Gravel World Championships.
“There are nonetheless some examinations occurring and talks with medical doctors. It does not distract me an excessive amount of, I believe it takes time,” she mentioned a few lingering harm. If anybody can translate what a physique is saying, it ought to be Geerike, who spent six years as a soigneur for pro cycling teams, together with Lidl-Trek.
For this yr, Geerike mentioned she would compete once more at The Traka, a ‘residence race’ the place she lives in Girona, and go all-in for Unbound. She is going to alter her mid-season schedule to incorporate extra time for restoration, and return to the US for established occasions CORE4 and Lauf Gravel Worlds which are actually a part of the Gravel Earth Sequence.
“I made a decision after Unbound to take a little bit of a break, I will not do the stage race [in Oregon], after which go into the second a part of the season after some weeks of coaching once more. In August, I might be again within the US. There’s some UCI Gravel Sequence races I wish to do, to gather some factors for the World Championships on the finish of the season.
“To be trustworthy, the races in America, they appear fairly cool, and I believe more often than not they’re the races that swimsuit me effectively. So there are some new races in there for this yr, some ones I did final yr. And so it is a good combine.”
