A star of the cyclocross and mountain bike calendars, Puck Pieterse's road racing career has been somewhat limited so far. In her first ever stage race at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes however, the 22-year-old has shone, including her first ever professional road victory ahead of Demi Vollering on stage 4.
When it was first announced that Pieterse would be making her debut in women's cycling's biggest race, after narrowly missing out on the medals in the mountain bike at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Dutchwoman announced intentions for a White Jersey challenge and stage win hunt. Being her first ever stage race, there were some doubts but 4 stages in, Pieterse has been almost faultless.
“When Puck participates, she only wants one thing, and that is to win," Fenix-Deceuninck sports director Michel Cornelisse proudly reflects of his young starlet's performances so far, in conversation with Cycling Weekly. “I think she proved today (stage 4) what she’s capable of. If she can win here in Liège today, why couldn’t she win Liège Bastogne Liège?”
Currently leading the Queen of the Mountains classification, Pieterse has also shown is capable in more than just the Classics-type parcours. As such, as the race nears the high mountains, Cornelisse and Fenix-Deceuninck are only growing in confidence. “We have two cards to play with. We know Pauliena Rooijakkers can handle the high mountains and I have no doubt Pieterse can hold her own in the mountains,” he explains. “She’s in such good form. She’s certainly not going to hand the win over.”
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