"I hope that there will be plenty of great races coming up where I can compete against Fem" - Puck Pieterse counts day till her return to competition

While Fem van Empel won the Nacht van Woerden in a dominant manner, spectators could norice her great competitor Puck Pieterse standing by the side of the road. She was present with some friends to enjoy the spectacle, and her sister also rode the race with the elite ladies.

"Of course I got some fomo (fear of missing out) but I hope that there will be plenty of great races coming up where I can compete against Fem. It feels a bit strange to be standing here on the sidelines, but it is also fun. I was also able to help during my sister's race by constantly shouting out the time differences. I can now speak to my friends and family a little better than usual, so that's nice."

Pieterse is actually eager to return to the field. She has already planned her return. She already indicated on Instagram that this would be at the end of November, but she told In de Leiderstrui her concrete plans. "My return is now scheduled for November 19, in the World Cup of Troyes," said Pieterse.

As a result she will miss out on several World Cup competitions. The rider therefore has not made the World Cup classification her goal. "I'm not necessarily too tired from the mountain bike season, but I'm mainly taking some rest now so that it doesn't bother me later in the season. I now have to skip some competitions so that I can have optimal preparation for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. In the cross season I will mainly try to peak for the World Championships, otherwise I will really focus on mountain biking. Everything on Paris!"