Puck Pieterse draws Mathieu van der Poel comparisons after Fleche win: "Same team, both Dutch, both top-tier in cyclocross and on explosive finishes you’re in trouble"

So often this Spring, Puck Pieterse has been an instigator of excitement in the women's big Classics. Despite being consistently there or thereabouts though, a win still eluded the Dutch star. At least that was until La Fleche Wallonne Femmes on Wednesday when Pieterse stunned Demi Vollering with a brutal acceleration on the final climb of the Mur de Huy.

Understandably, experts and fans alike were raving about the 22-year-old of Fenix-Deceuninck post-race. "Don’t forget she’s only 22. She’s already proven so much. To win in these conditions on your debut, against the biggest names in the sport - that means you’ve got extraordinary talent," says ex-pro Ine Beyen in her analysis for Sporza. "She’s a multi-discipline rider, and athletes like that often have an edge. Usually, she doesn’t hold back in races. She’s often criticised for being too impulsive and not racing economically enough. But now she’s shown she can be more measured - and it’s paying off."

"She’s a blessing for women’s cycling, just by being who she is," adds Beyen's Sporza colleague Ruben van Gucht. "Could she become the sport’s next big figurehead, given all her abilities? Sure, she still needs to rack up more victories, but she looks capable of winning almost any classic."

So good has Pieterse been across multi-disciplines of late that she's even drawing comparisons with her counterpart in the male, Alpecin-Deceuninck team, one of cycling's global superstars - Mathieu van der Poel.

"They ride for the same team, they’re both Dutch, both top-tier in cyclocross, they perform on the mountain bike, and on explosive finishes, you’re in trouble if they’re in the mix," notes Van Gucht. "Plus, they bring excitement."

"Yes, though this is only her second win, after a stage in the Tour de France Femmes. In terms of raw ability, the comparison is valid," adds Beyen in agreement. "But she’s not quite there yet in terms of results. Still, she’s a very complete rider."