


Puck Pieterse has claimed the Superprestige in Diegem for the third time in her career. The Dutch champion did not receive it as a gift from a strong Marie Schreiber but still soloed to victory. The Luxembourger crowned a strong race with second place, while Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado finished third.
The women's cyclocross season is currently dominated by Lucinda Brand. The Baloise Glowi Lions rider has won sixteen of the eighteen races she has contested this winter, but in Diegem we saw a different winner. The leading rider of Baloise Glowi Lions rarely drops a race, but this season she is not competing in every round of the Superprestige.
During the busy end-of-year period, even the seemingly tireless Brand has to make choices. And since she leads both the World Cup and the X2O Badkamers Trofee, the decision was quickly made: Brand’s name was not on the start list. In her absence, attention focused primarily on Dutch champion Puck Pieterse and her – on paper – biggest ‘rival’ Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2025 | |
| 2024 | |
| 2023 | |
| 2022 | |
| 2019 | |
| 2018 | |
| 2017 | |
| 2016 | |
| 2015 | |
| 2014 |
Van der Heijden crashes immediately, Pieterse pushes the pace
There was immediate commotion at the start, as disaster struck for Inge van der Heijden in the first corner. The Crelan-Corendon rider got caught in the jostling and, to make matters worse, crashed at high speed. Van der Heijden stayed down for a moment, made no attempt to get back on her bike, and had to abandon the race. For the European champion, it is a harsh blow, especially since she was still very much in the running for the overall Superprestige victory.
While Van der Heijden had a disastrous start, Puck Pieterse got off the blocks very well. The Dutch champion clearly felt at home on the fast but tricky course in Diegem and saw – with Brand absent – the chance to take control herself. She briefly opened a gap, but Pieterse was quickly joined by the surprisingly strong Marie Schreiber and Alvarado.

Pieterse on her way to victory in Diegem – photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
Pieterse pulls away, but Schreiber refuses to give up
Were we then set for a true three-way battle for victory? No, because with an impressive move through the sand pit, Pieterse extended the gap for the second time and this seemed to be the decisive move. Where Alvarado – who clearly struggled with the sand pit – had to drop back definitively, Schreiber still resisted. However, the Luxembourger seemed to have to admit defeat to Pieterse, as the difference grew to around fifteen seconds.
However, a rear flat tire for Pieterse caused a new twist in the plot. She lost valuable time and suddenly felt Schreiber’s hot breath on her neck again. The SD Worx-Protime rider, on the other hand, gained momentum but proved just short of bridging the final gap. Pieterse pushed the gas pedal again and put Schreiber about ten seconds behind going into the final lap.
This proved more than enough for Pieterse to take the win. She rode the final lap almost flawlessly and was able to celebrate in Diegem – just like in 2022 and 2023. For the Fenix-Deceuninck rider, it is her first victory of the cyclocross season. Schreiber was visibly happy with her second place, while Alvarado had to settle for third.
First victory of the season for Puck Pieterse
🇳🇱 The Dutch rider wins the Superprestige title in Diegem, with Schreiber and Alvarado completing the podium.pic.twitter.com/IHVVfQQrJ2
— Velotv à la Tv (@velotvfr) December 30, 2025

photo: Fotopersburo Cor Vos
| Rank | Rider | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 45:07 | |
| 2 | + 12 | |
| 3 | + 47 | |
| 4 | + 01:16 | |
| 5 | + 01:42 | |
| 6 | + 01:50 | |
| 7 | + 02:07 | |
| 8 | + 02:12 | |
| 9 | + 02:16 | |
| 10 | " |
| Rank | Rider | Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 83 | ||
| 2 | (1) | 76 | |
| 3 | (1) | 62 | |
| 4 | (1) | 51 | |
| 5 | (2) | 50 | |
| 6 | (2) | 44 | |
| 7 | (1) | 39 | |
| 8 | 29 | ||
| 8 | 29 | ||
| 10 | (4) | 27 |