Puck Pieterse to ride Elite national and World Championships

Cyclocross rising superstar Puck Pieterse who is still only 20 years old, revealed that she will race the elite Netherlands National Cyclocross Championships despite still being electable for the u23 race.

"I can win there too", said Pieterse in a conversation for RTV Utrecht. When asked by the interviewer if was it not a possibility to pick up another red-white-and-blue jersey in the promises category. She replied "Yes, but that is also possible in the elite huh" very directly meaning her confidence was not shaken despite Shirin Van Anrooij win against her in Zonhoven World Cup. "Shirin was a bit stronger today, but next week anything can happen again. I will compete", she concluded.

In contrast to her rival Puck Pieterse, Shirin Van Anrooij has yet not decided if she will race the u23 Netherlands National Cyclocross Championships despite being in great shape against the elite.

"Now I might want to ride at elite level anyway, whereas at first I was pretty sure I wanted to stay in the promises. During the last part of the lap I thought: people are going to ask about this. But I'm still not sure. It's a very difficult choice", said Anrooij in an interview after the Zonhoven race.

Their other big rival Fem van Empel that is also electable for the u23 race will definitely rode the elite Netherlands National Cyclocross Championships, since she previously decided to race in this category from now on in November 2022, when she won the European Championship at this level.