"I felt immediately that it was not quite right": Puck Pieterse worried about injury after crash at Dutch Nationals

Puck Pieterse was unable to defend the national jersey as she finished second at the Dutch National Championships in Huijbergen, losing the title to Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. However, the loss of the jersey was not her biggest concern after the race. Pieterse was in pain following a strange crash and is unsure if she has sustained an injury.

The incident happened during the chase for the title. While trying to close the gap to Alvarado, Pieterse lost control in a technical section. Known for her bike handling skills from mountain biking, this crash took her by surprise.

"At the exit of the woods, you went under the stairs for the first time. At a corner towards the meadow I slipped away and did some kind of somersault," Pieterse explained in quotes gathered by In de Leiderstrui. She tried to make light of the acrobatic nature of the fall. "I have never been able to do a frontflip, but now I flipped over anyway."

The course in Huijbergen was tricky. Snow and ice had made the surface unpredictable, though the temperature began to rise on Sunday. Other riders, such as Lucinda Brand, also struggled with the conditions. Still, Pieterse did not want to just blame the weather. "The grip had perhaps changed a bit, but that was already the case during my recon on Saturday. It is thawing a little," she noted.

The main issue now are the physical consequences. Pieterse finished the race, something remarkable considering she was in pain. "I still have to assess the damage. In the race you ride on adrenaline, but I didn't fall well. At least, that is what I think," Pieterse said cautiously. "I was lucky that I didn't fly into the fences or fall on my shoulder, but flat on my back. I felt immediately that it was not quite right."

With the World Cup in Benidorm coming up next weekend, her participation will depend on the medical assessment. "It is a matter of waiting. I will have it checked and hopefully I won't have any lasting trouble from it."