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To conclude our International Women’s Day 2025 features, we’re honoured to spotlight none other than The Gralloch 2024 Champion, Geerike Schreurs.
Geerike has been immersed in the cycling world since her teenage years, racing professionally across multiple disciplines and teams. A dedicated advocate for women’s racing, she has witnessed the sport evolve from an era of limited opportunities to the thriving industry we see today. Below, she shares her journey into cycling, her experiences in women’s racing, and her thoughts on the continued progress of the sport.
A Lifelong Passion for Cycling
“When I was 19 years old, I started cycling. From the first moment on the bike, I was sold.
It was the speed and the feeling of the wind on my face as I passed fields, forests, and rivers—I was in love. Soon after my first introduction to cycling, I started thinking about racing. I knew some riders made a living from it, but only a small percentage at that time.
I wasn’t a bad cyclist, but I was never satisfied with my performance. I put a lot of pressure on myself and gave myself no time for growth. Instead of allowing myself to develop naturally, I set unrealistic deadlines to reach the top, which only led to frustration.
Women’s cycling was very different back then. There were no salaries, and the infrastructure to support female riders was lacking. I only raced three full seasons before deciding to quit.
I tried to settle into a ‘normal life’—finding a stable job, thinking about starting a family—but cycling was always in the back of my mind.”
Returning to the Sport and Seeing Change
“It was through Kirsten Wild that I found my way back to cycling—this time in a team support role. I spent eight years as a soigneur in women’s cycling, watching the sport grow. Slowly but surely, women’s teams started receiving the same resources as the men’s, leading to better salaries and greater support. More women gained the opportunity to race full-time, and the number of female racers increased significantly.
Through those years, I saw how riders developed by taking one step at a time and trusting the process. Witnessing that growth made me think about getting back into racing myself.
In 2023, I entered a few gravel races—the first step in my plan to become a full-time gravel racer.”
The Rise of Women’s Gravel Racing
“Female gravel racing has grown rapidly in recent years. Where once there were only a handful of full-time gravel racers—who often had to race among the men—there are now many of us.
One of the biggest wins for women’s racing has been the introduction of more standalone women’s races. Because riders can now make a living from racing, results are crucial, and in my opinion, results only hold value if the race is fair. That fairness is only possible with separate women’s races.
How can someone truly justify winning a race if they spent the whole time sitting on the wheel of a man who towed them to the finish line? It’s not just the responsibility of race organisers to provide separate starts; it’s also up to us, as female riders, to race our own race. We need to show that we don’t need men to make our racing exciting. If we continue to prove how good women’s racing is when it stands alone, more organisers will have to follow suit and provide proper women’s races.”
Final Thoughts: Inspiring the Next Generation
“I hope that by racing our bikes, we inspire more women and young girls to take up cycling. The sport has given me so much—happiness, independence, and mental resilience—and I want every woman and girl to have the chance to experience that.
If I’ve learned anything, it’s to trust the process. Don’t rush it. Just have fun!”
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