"We now can say I am targeting this polka dot jersey": Puck Pieterse extends lead to 23 points as mountains jersey becomes ultimate Tour goal
CyclingThursday, 06 August 2026 at 03:00
Puck Pieterse may have missed out on the stage victory, but the Dutch rider left stage 5 of the Tour de France Femmes with exactly what she wanted most. After an aggressive day in the breakaway, the Fenix-Premier Tech star strengthened her grip on the polka-dot jersey and confirmed that the mountains classification is now her main objective.
Pieterse dominates the mountain competition
Pieterse started the stage with one clear mission: collect as many mountain points as possible. The Dutchwoman spent the day in the large breakaway, repeatedly cresting climbs at the front to extend her lead in the mountains classification.
She now sits on 37 points, holding a commanding 23-point advantage over second-placed Nikola Nosková. Reflecting on her ride, Pieterse admitted she thoroughly enjoyed the experience despite missing out on the stage victory.
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“There were many points at stake today and I had a really fun day out trying to score as many as possible. It was my first day in the breakaway and I enjoyed it so much,” Pieterse said in a post-race interview.
Although Demi Vollering eventually caught the breakaway and claimed the stage from the favourites' group, Pieterse believed a little more climbing strength could have changed her own outcome. "I was hoping to have better legs in the last climb, so I could resist with the best riders all the way to the top and play for the win later, but it wasn’t the case."
Even so, she was satisfied with her performance. "I gave everything I had, so I can be satisfied with my ride. We now can say I am targeting this polka dot jersey, yeah!"
Puck Pieterse at the 2026 Tour of Flanders
A special return to Mont Ventoux
Friday's legendary ascent of Mont Ventoux will be the hardest climb of this edition, and it already holds personal memories for Pieterse.
“I rode it on my mountain bike when I was ten. I looked it up again: my time was one hour and 58 minutes. I hope I can at least beat that record! It's really an amazing climb.”
While the polka-dot jersey is now her clear objective, Pieterse is refusing to look too far ahead. “We'll just take it day by day and see how we recover, but for now I still feel good. I'm really looking forward to what's coming.”
Félix SernaCycling Journalist
Félix Serna is a writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2025. He covers professional cycling across both the men’s and women’s calendars, with a focus on UCI rankings, race developments, and rider performance. His work includes interview-based reports, liveblogs, and tournament coverage designed to provide clear, accurate context throughout the season.
In his reporting, Félix regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical reference. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. He holds a bachelor’s degree in International Studies.
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