Puck Pieterse continues her CX victory drought as Fem van Empel powers to another victory: "She is really flying this season"

Puck Pieterse finished second in the Superprestige Boom on Saturday. The Dutch champion initially chose to attack, but in the end she was no match for Fem van Empel. The world champion won by more than a minute.

How is it possible that the difference was so big? "Fem just rides really well," the Dutch champion was honest in an interview afterwards. "It's that simple. She is really flying this season. She proves that once again today."

However, Pieterse is confident that she can close the gap with Van Empel again. "If I just keep doing my thing, I can really work towards that level again. You saw in the summer that I was stronger, now Fem is stronger again. Do I need to get something in there? After three races you'll be in it, of course. There's definitely still fire in me. It's nice to be working towards something."

"It's a shame that Lucinda and Ceylin were not there today. They might have ridden there with me, or maybe before, or with Fem. We haven't gotten that picture very clearly yet. But you can see that I was now in no man's land for the entire race, because behind me it was a battle for third place. But it was a good circuit to ride at your own pace. I tried to ride new lines throughout the race, to see where I can go faster. If you no longer participate for the win, you have time to work on that. I'm looking forward to the next race."