"It’s important to show the outside world that it’s not all robotic" - Puck Pieterse on the fun in cycling
Cycling
Women's cycling is having a boom in popularity and exposure, and is being boosted by a few big stars including Puck Pieterse. The Dutch rider's social media activity, Youtube videos and success over multiple disciplines makes her a very attractive figure and the Dutchwoman is also looking to inspire younger riders.
“Many girls drop out at U18 and U20, but if social media is full of clips of people having fun on the bike, then we can inspire them to continue,” Pieterse argued at Rouleur Live this Thursday evening in London.
“It’s important to show the outside world that it’s not all robotic. It’s not just: eat, sleep, train". Whilst the professionalism is certainly kept by the Fenix-Deceuninck rider, one of the very best on the road, mountain biking and cyclocross all at once. The 23-year old also benefits from the TV broadcasting of most of her racing calendar, something a decade ago would be unthinkable.
“I started in the world of pro cycling at a good time. Before, there was just a small summary of the women’s race before the men’s race. Now, MTB races are on television, and for the younger girls, they know it’s a job. They can watch a full stage of the Tour de France.”
Record Numbers
Zwift director Kate Veronneau shared numbers on the Tour de France Femmes' numbers, which show a very strong sign of improvement for the women's peloton. “The Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift had 148 million hours viewed worldwide. An 80% increase. We got into this to start a movement. It feels really good, four years on, to know that not only is it working, but we’re in for another four.”
“It’s wonderful when you can align what feels good and what is good for the future. But at the end of the day, it’s also a business. When the global reach grows, it grows on Zwift as well.”
In 2024, Puck Pieterse beat Demi Vollering to win her first Tour de France Femmes stage in Liège. @Imago
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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leedorney08-11-2026 - To Twoje przemyślenia te bla, bla :)
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parisbound0008-11-2026 - there needs to be space in life for pointless comments!Ketterechts08-11-2026
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