Puck Pieterse is rapidly changing into one among 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 greatest 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At simply 22 years outdated, the Fenix-Deceuninck rider has already captured the eye of mountain biking and cyclocross followers via her profitable performances and no-handed wheelies.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 implies that she is contemplating her prospects in highway racing and dreaming in regards to the yellow jersey.
“I feel this week confirmed that there’s something doable sooner or later, perhaps when I’m a bit older, so I sit up for that,” Pieterse instructed 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 dissatisfied in that outcome, 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 sequence 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.
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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 yr’s Tour de France Femmes, the press requested Pieterse if she felt she had to decide on between mountain biking, cyclocross and highway 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 excellent highway season with two podiums throughout the spring Classics within the Ronde van Drenthe and Trofeo Alfredo Binda. That led to a stage win and one of the best younger riders’ classification win on the Tour de France Femmes after which the under-23 highway race world title in Zurich.
She admitted that, of all of the highway races this yr, competing on the Tour de France Femmes was a last-minute determination, and though she did not anticipate the successes she earned, she had felt ready for her debut nonetheless.
“I went in with… I knew that the white jersey may very well be doable however that Shirin [van Anrooij] could be the most important competitor, along with Fem [Van Empel]. I did not anticipate it to go so properly,” Pieterse stated.
“I received a stage, additionally a primary highway race win and first WorldTour win. That was one thing I did not anticipate in any respect. I attempted to go in with the least quantity of expectations and simply to be taught loads. I feel I realized loads. I realized to push my limits.”
Pieterse additionally praised her Fenix-Deceuninck teammate Pauliena Rooijakkers’ efficiency all through the eight-stage race that led to a robust closing 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 along with her. To see how robust she is in these sorts of [climbing] situations is loopy. I hope I can push these watts sooner or later as properly,” 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 certain, you have to dream large”.
Puck Pieterse wins one of the best younger rider classification on the 2024 Tour de France Femmes (Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
