Puck Pieterse boosts world championship ambitions with World Cup win in Hoogerheide
Puck Pieterse will head to the upcoming World Championships in Hulst with a great deal of confidence. The Dutch rider from Fenix-Premier Tech was already the strongest in the Maasmechelen World Cup on Saturday and won the final World Cup race in Hoogerheide on Sunday. Pieterse secured victory after an exciting race against Kristýna Zemanová and Amandine Fouquenet.
The World Cups in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide served as the final rehearsal for the World Championships in Hulst this weekend, but they are also prestigious races in their own right. Among the women, not all the big names started in Hoogerheide (unlike in Maasmechelen). The two most notable absentees were definitely Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and World Cup winner Lucinda Brand.
Dutch champion Alvarado had already decided to skip the Hoogerheide race in preparation for the World Championships, while Brand came with frustrating news after a disappointing race in Maasmechelen — where she could play no significant role. Due to a painful calf injury, it was decided as a precaution to skip the final World Cup event of the season.
Waiting for the spectacle
The other Dutch cyclo-cross star, Puck Pieterse, was present in Hoogerheide. The Fenix-Premier Tech rider was the clear favorite for the win, but initially took a cautious approach. She let her compatriot Inge van der Heijden set the pace, but the lightning-fast course did not immediately invite a move for the lead, so the race remained tight at first.
After a tentative opening phase, we saw a first serious acceleration by Sara Casasola in the second lap. The Italian champion — who is back after a tough period plagued by health issues — attacked strongly and stretched the still sizeable group out in a line. It was more of an Italian interlude, but Casasola’s acceleration inspired others. Pieterse emerged from her shell and pushed the pace several times.
Pieterse takes control
Under the Dutch rider’s leadership, the large lead group was significantly reduced. Casasola and Fouquenet (who impressed especially on the climbs) managed to stay on, and shortly after, Zoe Bäckstedt, the notably strong Viktória Chladoňová, and Kristýna Zemanová also joined the front. These riders were closely matched, although Pieterse mainly had her hands full with Fouquenet and Casasola.
The Italian champion however crashed when entering the start-finish straight, taking herself out of contention. At the front of the race, the lead continued to swap among the favorites. Pieterse tried multiple attacks to shake off her rivals, but the competition held firm. Pieterse, however, was not done yet and launched another attack in the final lap.
And claims victory once again
This proved to be the decisive acceleration against her rivals. The exceptionally strong and tough Zemanová was the last to fold, while the unleashed Pieterse steadily pulled away from the Czech rider meter by meter. She entered the final straight with a clear lead and had all the time in the world to celebrate her second consecutive World Cup victory. Zemanová rewarded a strong performance with her first World Cup podium, while Fouquenet finished third this time.
