“I think third place was the maximum, Ceylin was superior" - Puck Pieterse reacts to third place at World Cup Namur
Cyclocross
Puck Pieterse marked her return to the cyclocross circuit
with an impressive third-place finish at the World Cup Namur. Despite stepping
back into the discipline after a long absence, the Fenix-Deceuninck rider
proved she is already up to speed is a top competitor in the field.
The 22-year-old Dutch star, who has seven World Cup
victories to her name in her young career, continued her remarkable 2024 campaign that has already
seen her excel across multiple disciplines. Earlier this year, Pieterse claimed
a stage victory and the young riders' classification at the Tour de France
Femmes, as well as taking the world title in mountain biking.
Namur’s challenging course offered no easy re-entry into
cyclocross for Pieterse, but she demonstrated her usual endurance and skill,
battling against top rivals to secure her podium position. Reflecting on her
performance, Pieterse shared her thoughts with Wielerflits
“Of course not everything went perfectly, but I’m glad I
didn’t have any big crashes or really stupid mistakes,” she reflected on her
performance. “I think third place was the maximum. I think Ceylin was just
superior today.”
The Dutch rider also detailed her tactical approach during
the race: “At one point I was riding together with Blanka. I tried
to drop her on the longer climb, but when I noticed that it wasn’t working, I
let her take the lead.”
Pieterse was quick to acknowledge the impressive
performances of her competitors, including winner Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado
and Lucinda Brand, who surged through the field after starting from a
challenging position.
Read also
“Eventually Lucinda came back, which encouraged me to chase
as well. Because Lucinda could have come even closer, but Ceylin was simply
superior today,” Pieterse admitted. “Just like Lucinda, because she came from
far back to the front. So I’m happy with my third place.”
Fem van Empel 🆚 Puck Pieterse
— UCI Cyclocross (@UCI_CX) December 15, 2024
All the action, all the drama already on Lap 1️⃣#CXWorldCup #FLCS pic.twitter.com/tZSypZPOs8
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- I live in Maribor.PogiSloFans14-11-2026
- I live in Ljubljana and often go on trips in the surrounding area, where I frequently see young cyclists in 'Pogi Team' jerseys training, either alone or in groups. By simply motivating so many young people to take up cycling, Tadej has already achieved something truly significant.Velijo14-11-2026
- That's an excellent point. It's interesting that Vader came to that realization only after he learned that his contract wasn't going to be renewed.
santiagobenites14-11-2026 - Indeed! A reluctant gift maybe. Even more reluctant gift from Roglic! Tho I can’t see that Rog would have beaten Ving anyway.Lozza14-11-2026
- That really nasty crash in 2022 Liege must have played a big part - broken ribs, pneumothorax. You only have to look at his points tallies pre and post.Lozza14-11-2026
- Yeah, good luck getting tv and race organisers like ASO etc to part with their cash!Lozza14-11-2026
- 36 and Ineos have bought a rider on the downward slope. Bring back Dave and Rob who could manage the team. How are Ineos going to win a grand tour with people past their sell by date.paultryan200214-11-2026
- Mmmm would he be making these comments when he was on the richest team when riding. I think not i suspect. If we want money put into the sport we need sponsors who are prepared to put the money in. No disrespect but his team are 2nd or 3rd div in football terms with riders over the hill or 2nd string riders. If i was a sponsor i would be looking at what publicity am i getting back and Tudor really are just making up the numbers really.paultryan200214-11-2026
- I see (elsewhere) that Alaphilippe had more to say than what got relayed in this stub. Me: he was very good early but his latter third trajectory was the pits. His old boss did what he could (huffed and puffed) but Julian couldn't get his greatness back. Sometimes I wonder if crashes that didn't look like much changed the course of the rider.flyer14-11-2026
- I wouldn't classify it as a gift because the nasty consequences of taking it from Sepp would have been great and would persist and he knew it.flyer14-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment