Perfect from Puck! Pieterse returns to winning ways at Duinencross Koksijde
Cyclocross
A perfect performance from Puck Pieterse has seen the Dutch star take the victory at Duinencross Koksijde this Friday afternoon as part of the X2O Badkammers Trofee, marking her first success since returning to the discipline this winter. Lucinda Brand and Fem van Empel completed the podium in 2nd and 3rd respectively.
In a tense battle at the front early on, the very impressive Inge van der Heijden was proving herself as a real sand specialist, matching Puck Pieterse and putting time into both Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand among others. As Van der Heijden made a couple of small mistakes at the end of lap 2 though, Pieterse stretched her advantage to 11 seconds over her, and more than 20 to Brand and Van Empel.
On lap 3, Van der Heijden began to start paying for her fast start as both Van Empel and Brand caught up to her. Pieterse though, was looking faultless now 29 seconds clear. As Pieterse took the bell, she was still 20 seconds clear, but the charging Brand was breaking free of Van Empel and beginning to hunt down the leader. Pieterse's advantage proved just too much though as the Fenix-Deceuninck star took the 14th professional cyclocross victory of her young career.
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- The only safety measure that is realistic in this situation is for the rider to realise the danger this represents and stop immediately (and be allowed to change equipment/bike), unlikely to happen though knowing the mental state riders are in during races. A simple flat tire (more front than back) can lead to death and they still haven’t found reliable solutions to that.Mistermaumau05-01-2025
- I’m always amazed at how much people pay attention to such stuff cycling. Unless I’m alone and someone else is too, I pass, say hi and move on. On the rare occasions I get passed, if I’m in shape I’ll try to join or hang but I’ll not try to identify anyone (in any case, far too many amateurs dress in pro outfits). Similarly, when riding in groups, everyone seems to scouring and analysing other people’s equipment and set-ups (i.e. not really paying attention to the group, riding or the road) no wonder so many silly accidents happen. This also seems to be used as a rare excuse for breaking the ice whereas mentioning other more noticeable things like physionomic details a person probably isn’t aware of because they can’t see themselves riding (swinging hips, lateral knee jerks, foot turns, skewed shoulders etc.) doesn’t seem to be appreciated. Strange logic, forever fidgeting and paying in order to optimise your equipment for better performance but ignoring the potential you have for doing the same to yourself, often for free.Mistermaumau05-01-2025
- Nothing is obvious in Belgium, had Wout been from the French speaking regions, Mathieu would have been more popular. Philippe Gilbert is just about the only Walloon who managed to win over the Flemish and though he was adamant about representing the whole country you’d often see whole armies of fans brandishing seperatist unofficial Flemish flags at international races, kidnapping his popularity for their cause, NOT paying their respect to his talent. Belgium is a very complicated country even cycling-wise. As far as I know Wallonia has no known xc, not even an indoor cycling track and most would be hard done by to name any other non-Flemish rider. Mathieu is treated as a Belgian in many conditions, and this is further helped by his team being Belgian..Mistermaumau05-01-2025
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- What a dumb comment! Of course Wout would be more popular in Belgium...he's from Belgium ! Sheesh!frieders305-01-2025
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