"Now I dream of winning in Paris on the mountain bike" - Puck Pieterse dreams of cyclocross World title and mountain biking Olympic title

Puck Pieterse is only 21 years of age but her ambitions are sky high. She talks about her upcoming cyclocross season goals but also reveals that Olympic gold is currently a top priority in her list.

"I don't ride in Flamanville, but after that I basically do all the World Cups up to and including the Cyclocross World Championships. I will also be there at the Cyclo-Cross National Championships to defend my title," Pieterse told CyclingOnline. After returning to cyclocross this past week, the Dutchwoman finished second in the Troyes World Cup and third in Kortrijk. She took some rest in October and November and now began her true build-up towards the national and world championships.

This will come after a very busy programmed including the Christmas block and virtually all remaining World Cup races. "Moreover, I will participate in a number of extra competitions during the Christmas period. Next Saturday, Boom is on the program and all the top Dutch women will ride there. That will be a kind of World Cup."

She was nominated Dutch promise of the year but could not match Demi Vollering who was nominated female rider of the year. "I was also nominated for the women, but if you see what Demi Vollering and Annemiek van Vleuten achieved there, the competition is very fierce and the outcome is deserved I am happy with this award," she adds. However, she concludes with the goal she has in mind for 2024: "I started 2023 with the idea that I wanted to qualify for the Olympic Games, but that went even better. Now I dream of winning in Paris on the mountain bike."