After profitable a stage of the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift in Liège final season, Puck Pieterse revealed that she’s going to put a most important give attention to the Ardennes Classics this yr as soon as she begins her street racing season with Fenix-Deceuninck on the WorldTour within the spring.
The multi-disciplined rider concluded her off-road season with a bronze on the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships in Liévin on Saturday after being overwhelmed by fellow street riders and compatriots, world champion Fem van Empel and silver medallist Lucinda Model.
In her third season of street racing, Pieterse has added Liège–Bastogne–Liège to her want record of races to do nicely on this spring, particularly after her success on the streets of Liège final summer time.
“I’ve acquired a small break now for every week. I’ll go and do some winter sports activities,” stated Pieterse, who ends her shortened cyclo-cross season having gained the Dutch Nationwide Cyclo-cross Championships and secured six World Cup podiums.
“Then I’m going on to Spain with the workforce and put together for the Spring Classics. I see progress. In my first yr on the street, I caught to 2 races; it was not a giant season.
“Final yr, I rode fairly some races and in addition the Tour de France Femmes. It made me hungry for extra.
“After the Tour, additionally Liège–Bastogne–Liège. I haven’t regarded on the Ardennes Classics in any respect, simply the Liège stage of the Tour.
The most recent race content material, interviews, options, critiques and knowledgeable shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
“This yr, I’ll see whether or not Amstel Gold or Flèche Wallonne might be for me; I don’t know that but.”
‘I could be happy with third place’
Pieterse was a fast starter on the UCI Cyclo-cross World Championships and led the opening lap earlier than placing each Van Empel and Model beneath strain because the three Dutch riders gapped their opponents.
Nonetheless, the tempo of her compatriots instructed within the closing laps, and Pieterse completed 1:09 behind gold medallist Van Empel and 51 seconds behind Model. “I could be happy with third place,” Pieterse stated.
“The tactic was to see the place all people was firstly. Then to attempt to preserve some power, to be in there within the last, and see, from there, how the ways performed out.
“I regarded round firstly and regarded the place the remaining was, in fact. I attempted to not let myself be fooled. It was primarily a little bit of exhibiting one another the place we might drive [on the course]—and making an attempt to get into one another’s heads a bit as a substitute of pulling via.
“I believe that Fem and Lucinda had just a bit left within the last. I truly drove from the time we have been collectively, and I used to be simply on the restrict. Once they pulled, then I felt my legs. Then, I knew it will be tough.
“Till one-and-a-half laps to go, I used to be within the combine. The assaults on the entrance actually began taking place, and I didn’t have sufficient energy to shut them anymore. I am simply comfortable that it went the way in which it went. I believe I can take sufficient with third place.
“Fem at all times wins this title, thrice in a row. Each time, on the proper time, she is tremendous good.”
Van Empel, Pieterse, Model and Blanka Kata Vas might be competing as soon as once more after they return to the Spring Classics.
Whereas Model has expertise on her facet, Van Empel, Pieterse and Vas are within the early phases of their street racing profession.
Regardless of Van Empel profitable three cyclo-cross world titles in a row, she is but to win an expert street race. Her greatest has been ending runner-up in a Tour de Romandie Féminin stage in 2023.
In the meantime, Pieterse and Vas gained phases of final yr’s Tour de France Femmes. Nonetheless, Pieterse believes that Van Empel has the expertise and the energy to win on the street, too.
“We’re already joking about … we’re going to assault along with Blanka (Vas) at Strade [Bianche],” Pieterse stated. “That reveals how excessive the extent is now in ‘cross.
“When you’re prime on the street, you don’t essentially should be good at ‘cross. If street riders would be part of us in ‘cross, they would not get near the rostrum. You additionally see that it’s conversely tough to shift from ‘cross to the street.
“I believe Fem is a barely extra explosive racer like me. For the remaining, I believe we’re just about the identical. I believe Fem can race a bit of extra together with her head. I allow them to really feel a bit of bit, which isn’t essentially a foul factor. If Fem can do that in ‘cross, then she actually can do it on the street.”