After 10 weeks in neck brace after a season at the Tour de France Femmes, Pfeiffer Georgi (DSM-Firmenich PostNL) finally returned to training on the road.

The British National Champion suffered fractures to his neck and hands in Stage 5 of the tour in the same mass crash that Demi Volaring lost his yellow jersey. But Georgi is confident that she will rediscover her fitness ahead of the 2025 season.

"It all happened so quickly. We know we were coming from the roundabout, then the corner turned really sharply to the left, I remember people crashing in front of me," Georgi said when recalling the incident to Cyclingnews and Daniel Benson of Ru Rules Live."I really had no time to do anything and just flipped over my bar.

Georgi quickly recognized the pain and severity of her injuries and fractured the opposite side of the c7 vertebra and part of the thoracic vertebra when she crashed in the Brugge de Panne in 2020.

"In fact, I knew the sensation because I broke the same vertebra on the other side. So I said, oh, this could be pretty bad, I couldn't really move, so I had the same kind of pain," she said.  

"I also thought my hand was broken right away, but it was only confirmed when I went to the hospital."

After 3 months, Georgi has finally returned.

"It's been a long time. I've done two days on the road now and it's been great to finally get back,"" she said.

"Longer than expected. At first, I thought it would only be about a month, but they said the fracture needs three months to heal. Now I'm in physio twice a week, just move my neck again for when I'm back on the road. 

"Both fractures were stable, but fortunately, it was good. I just had to wear a neck brace for 10 weeks to stabilize it. But it was a matter of recovery and there was no surgery.

While struggling to eat and being forced to sleep on her back to accommodate the brace, her 10-week rest period has become normal for Georgi, but for 24-year-old Brit, all eyes are on the next season. 

"When it comes to fitness, I think I should be back soon. Obviously, endurance takes a bit of time, but I think we're going to build it really slowly so that it doesn't put too much strain on the neck," she continued. 

"I'm not worried about the timing of next year. I obviously think it could be a similar program to 2024, with a focus on classics like Roubaix. I love it this year and it's my big goal. I think there is enough time before that.

She talked to Rouleur about taking the "next step" in her current established career as a top rider, along with Ben Healy and Olav Kooij.

Georgi is already one of the Dsm's most important riders 1, a classic leader and a key cog on Charlotte Kool's lead・out train, winning the Dutchman in 2 Tour de France Femme stages. But with GC star Juliette Labous leaving, there is increasing pressure for Georgi to take that next step. 

Before her season on the tour, it was another wonderful year for the Brit, netting fifth in the Paris Olympic Road Race, fourth in the Amstel Gold Race, and emotional third place in Paris-Roubaix, when she realized she had piped Marianne Voss to the final podium. When she saw the broadcast broke into tears. 

"The first part of the year was really great. I think it's probably a step up from last year. "I think Rubé is definitely a highlight and will give us confidence next year, knowing that we can reach that level in that type of race," she said.

And while she and Kool may be key to the success of the DSM-Firmenich PostNL next year, they will also be able to compete with the likes of SD Worx-Protime, Canyon-SRAM and FDJ-SUEZ. Which the whole team to compete with the big team of women's cycling

"We're probably not the biggest names, but I think we can do a lot when we're together. We all ride really well. And I think every one of my teammates will die for you, they will commit 100 percent," Georgi said.  

"They know that if they do that, they have a chance. The first few years in the team I was always supported, and I was given some opportunities to become captain and leader of the road, and now I love to be part of the lead-out for Charlotte, and I also get my own opportunities in the classics."