Puck Pieterse after solo victory in Val Di Sole - "Fortunately, I was able to release my power"

After an intense battle in World Cup Val Di Sole, Puck Pieterse won her fifth title of the season. It was in the third lap that she gained a lead, which she held until the end of the race.

She started the race with a crash. "Luckily, I didn't fall too hard today, there were a few points that were very slippery," Pieterse said in the post-race interview. Luckily, she was able to recover from the crash, but Fem van Empel was not so fortunate. "I think everyone made mistakes today."

She made a comeback and took the lead for herself. "Fortunately, I was able to release my power well in most places on the lap. After riding more laps, I also had a bit more grip. I knew where I could ride through and where I couldn't. But some corners got smoother, that's for sure," explained Pieterse.

Fem van Empel may be taking some time off from cyclocross after her crash, leaving Pieterse in a good position to take the top spot overall. "We will see how the next races go. Fem obviously still has a big lead, she can even skip some races. I'll see how it goes. If I win some more races, maybe something is possible. Time will tell," concluded the Dutchwoman.