‘It is advisable dream large’ – Puck Pieterse considers future street racing prospects and Tour de France yellow
Share
SHARE
Puck Pieterse is shortly changing into one in every of professional biking’s multi-discipline greats, upping the ante but once more when she sprinted to a shocking stage 4 victory on the Tour de France Femmes in a rain-soaked Liège after which sealed the occasion’s finest younger rider victory atop the long-lasting Alpe d’Huez in August.
At simply 22 years outdated, the Fenix-Deceuninck rider has already captured the eye of mountain biking and cyclocross followers via her profitable performances and no-handed wheelies. Her success in her debut on the French Grand Tour now signifies that she is contemplating her prospects in street racing and dreaming concerning the yellow jersey.
“I feel this week confirmed that there’s something potential sooner or later, perhaps when I’m a bit older, so I look ahead to that,” Pieterse informed the press when she was interviewed on the end of stage 8 on Alpe d’Huez on the Tour de France Femmes in August.
Pieterse arrived on the Tour de France Femmes this summer season immediately from the Olympic Video games, the place she completed simply out of the medals in fourth place within the mountain bike occasion, distanced after struggling an premature flat tyre on lap 5 of seven.
She might need been disillusioned in that consequence, however she had already constructed her off-road profession; in cyclocross with an under-23 world title in 2022 and silver and bronze medals within the elite class in 2023 and 2024. She has additionally received seven World Cups throughout the earlier two seasons.
In cross-country mountain biking, Pieterse secured her first elite world title, capturing the rainbow jersey on the World Championships in Vallnord, Andorra in September, simply after racing the Tour de France Femmes. She has additionally received 4 World Cups throughout the earlier two seasons.
Constructing out her multi-discipline profession even additional, Pieterse opted out of the ultimate rounds of the Mountain Bike World Cup collection to compete within the Highway World Championships the place she received the under-23 title. On the UCI Gravel World Championships the following week, she completed simply off the rostrum in fourth.
The newest race content material, interviews, options, opinions and skilled shopping for guides, direct to your inbox!
Puck Pieterse wears the mountains classification jersey, Kasia Niewiadoma wears the general chief’s jersey on the 2024 Tour de France Femmes
Forward of this 12 months’s Tour de France Femmes, the press requested Pieterse if she felt she had to decide on between mountain biking, cyclocross and street racing sooner or later, however she stated her schedule this season led to prime performances in all disciplines and that she would proceed to race in each.
Pieterse additionally had an impressive street season with two podiums throughout the spring Classics within the Ronde van Drenthe and Trofeo Alfredo Binda. That led to a stage win and the most effective younger riders’ classification win on the Tour de France Femmes after which the under-23 street race world title in Zurich.
She admitted that, of all of the street races this 12 months, competing on the Tour de France Femmes was a last-minute resolution, and though she did not count on the successes she earned, she had felt ready for her debut nonetheless.
“I went in with… I knew that the white jersey could possibly be potential however that Shirin [van Anrooij] can be the most important competitor, along with Fem [Van Empel]. I did not count on it to go so effectively,” Pieterse stated.
“I received a stage, additionally a primary street race win and first WorldTour win. That was one thing I did not count on in any respect. I attempted to go in with the least quantity of expectations and simply to be taught rather a lot. I feel I discovered rather a lot. I discovered to push my limits.”
Pieterse additionally praised her Fenix-Deceuninck teammate Pauliena Rooijakkers’ efficiency all through the eight-stage race that led to a strong last showdown on Alpe d’Huez the place she sealed third place general behind general winner Kasia Niewiadoma (Canyon-SRAM) and runner-up Demi Vollering (SD Worx-Protime).
“It was good racing together with her. To see how sturdy she is in these sorts of [climbing] circumstances is loopy. I hope I can push these watts sooner or later as effectively,” she stated.
Requested if a part of her was desirous about swapping the white jersey for the yellow jersey sooner or later editions of the Tour de France Femmes, Pieterse stated, “For positive, you’ll want to dream large”.
Puck Pieterse wins the most effective younger rider classification on the 2024 Tour de France Femmes (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Your Trusted Source for Accurate and Timely Updates!
Our commitment to accuracy, impartiality, and delivering breaking news as it happens has earned us the trust of a vast audience. Stay ahead with real-time updates on the latest events, trends.
