Geerike Schreurs (Group SD Worx-Protime) resumed a penchant to search out the rostrum at her 2025 gravel season opener this previous weekend, completing moment total at Santa Vall. Her incidence on the entrance of races was once at the verge of monopolisation final 12 months, incomes 13 peak 10s in 14 races, together with a win at The Gralloch and moment in a dash end at Unbound Gravel 200.
The 2 days of high-impact, top-notch festival round Girona was once thought to be “a good test” for the Dutch rider, who gave the impression to no longer skip a pedal stroke even after six months clear of racing and restoration from damage.
She was once no longer most effective clean with shape to start her sophomore season on gravel but additionally hid technical demanding situations at the first day of Santa Vall that can have toppled her end altogether.
“I’m happy to be back racing. I knew it was a strong field and I think I had a good start,” Schreurs stated in a post-race video after keeping her personal on degree 1 in a dash end towards winner Annika Langvad (Specialised Off-Highway) and second-placed Rosa Klöser (Canyon CLLCTV).
“The last 25k to go, I had a problem with my pedal and I couldn’t get in anymore, so I was riding the last 25km with just one foot in the pedal. On the climbs, it was pretty hard. I’m super happy to be back. Looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Whilst Langvad secured the GC identify at the longer 116.5km degree 2, Geerike installed time to Unbound Gravel 200 champion Klöser and moved into moment total to complete the weekend.
Geerike final confronted off towards Klöser in Emporia, Kansas, which etched importance as the primary time since 2007 that elite ladies had a devoted get started for their very own race, which ended in a nine-rider dash end. She recalled a sense of each delight and sadness at Unbound, and set her function for this 12 months to head higher, which is only one spot up for a victory.
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“If you’re second at Unbound, it almost doesn’t mean anything. Only the ones who win get all the attention, which is fair. I would never thought I would actually end up on the podium. But at the same time, I was really disappointed. The next day, I was like, next year, it’s going to be my goal to do even better.”
Being a part of a Ladies’s WorldTour staff, Schreurs stated she’d give you the option to do two Belgian highway races in March – GP Oetingen and Nokere Koerse. She stated all her low season coaching was once at the highway, together with the SD Worx-Protime camp, and he or she favored the arrogance of being a part of any such cast staff construction – from apparatus, vitamin and training.
“The team basically does it all for me. It’s a lot of good sponsors and I don’t have to worry about any of them. In March I have the opportunity to do two road races. It’s just going to be really interesting, because, I haven’t done any road races in 11 years. So it’s as much as I’m excited about it, I’m also a little bit anxious It’s a different dynamic and I really like to race with the team. It keeps me motivated.”
With a motorcycle throw (a long way proper), Geerike Schreurs finishes moment to Unbound Gravel 200 winner Rosa Klöser final 12 months (Symbol credit score: Lifestyles Time)
She’ll proceed to journey the Specialised Crux with Pathfinder Professional tyres at gravel races, and all-in for Unbound Gravel, this time the highest step.
“I am actually looking forward to have Unbound as a goal and to work towards that race like everything possible. It’s also scary to say it out loud, because basically it puts pressure on yourself, and people start to watch you. But on the other hand, it’s a big goal so why not speak it out loud? And it’s something I really dream of. Everyone can dream, and we are free to share them with the world as well.”
Closing 12 months after Unbound, she stayed in the United States to compete at Oregon Path Gravel, completing 6th total on the five-day 350-mile (563km) Gravel Earth Sequence match. However she says her staying power is best suited for the lengthy, one-day races, just like the Traka 360, the place she completed moment, and The Rift, the place she was once 3rd.
“I realized I need to plan a little bit different. I think I started with commitments and motivation into racing and it was already new for me, but not realizing how much stress it gives on your body as well with all the travelling,” Geerike admitted.
“I was quite consistent, but I was not happy with the results. I think it was just a sign that my body needed a break and I was very tired. I learned much more about my body and my mental health.”
It was once in Oregon after Unbound the place her frame advised her she wanted a damage, however quickly after she persisted with a travel to Iceland and an 11-hour-plus haul at The Rift. Quickly after she had a crash in a bike-packing travel, injuring her bicep in a single arm, and would no longer compete on the UCI Gravel Global Championships.
“There are still some examinations going on and talks with doctors. It doesn’t distract me too much, I think it takes time,” she stated a couple of lingering damage. If any individual can translate what a frame is announcing, it will have to be Geerike, who spent six years as a soigneur for professional biking groups, together with Lidl-Trek.
For this 12 months, Geerike stated she would compete once more at The Traka, a ‘house race’ the place she lives in Girona, and move all-in for Unbound. She’s going to regulate her mid-season time table to incorporate extra time for restoration, and go back to the United States for established occasions CORE4 and Lauf Gravel Worlds which at the moment are a part of the Gravel Earth Sequence.
“I decided after Unbound to take a bit of a break, I won’t do the stage race [in Oregon], and then go into the second part of the season after some weeks of training again. In August, I will be back in the US. There’s some UCI Gravel Series races I would like to do, to collect some points for the World Championships at the end of the season.
“To be truthful, the races in The united states, they give the impression of being beautiful cool, and I believe as a rule they are the races that swimsuit me neatly. So there are some new races in there for this 12 months, some ones I did final 12 months. And so it is a excellent combine.”
