The organizers of the Diegem Cross were disappointed to be the only Christmas cross that will not have either Mathieu van der Poel or Wout van Aert at the start line after their season debut. After the two big stars of the men's field, the women's race will have to take place without Puck Pieterse due to a last-minute decision.
"Unfortunately, no Puck Pieterse at Telenet Superprestige Diegem today. Puck wasn’t feeling 100% in Gavere on Thursday, already experiencing some stomach issues before the start," Fenix-Deceuninck wrote on their social media page. "Despite two days of rest, her condition worsened. After consulting with the medical team, the decision was made to skip Diegem. We wish Puck a swift recovery and hope to see her back in action soon!"
As the Dutchwoman is not competing for any cup this doesn't come as a dramatic misfortune. The final cross of 2024 will take place tonight. Until just a few days ago race organizer Francis Bosschaerts had told Wielerflits that "the only thing we then have to make sure of is that we have the money to pay them. But if Van Aert calls one of these days, he can definitely start".
Unfortunately, no Puck Pieterse at @SuperprestigeCX Diegem today.
— Fenix-Deceuninck Cycling Team (@FenixDeceuninck) December 30, 2024
Read it here ↩️ https://t.co/6xDm7Gcxap#FenixDeceuninck pic.twitter.com/JINNSiy37c
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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