Puck Pieterse has revealed the races in which she will return to cyclocross

Puck Pieterse is one of the most talented cyclists on the planet and she has only the young age of 22. She is firmly one of the favourites to win the Cyclocross World Championships this winter despite her focus in other disciplines and she has revealed when she intends on getting back to racing.

"Probably early December. As it looks now, it will be in Herentals or Namur. They'll have to wait a bit for me," the Dutchwoman told Wielerflits last night at the Nacht van Woerden where she and Marianne Vos were VIP guests. The race provided a lot of spectacle on this Tuesday night in the Netherlands and Pieterse was able to get back to the atmosphere of one of the disciplines where she has already won a lot.

Last season the Fenix - Deceuninck rider managed to win three World Cup races and finished third at the World Championships in Tabor, a race dominated by her compatriot Fem van Empel. Since, Pieterse has won a stage at the Tour de France Femmes on the road and has become Mountain Bike World Champion. A long and successful year means a deserved break, and she is taking some time off before focusing again in cyclocross.

She has said that a return is likely in mid-December, almost two months from now, either in the Herentals or Namur races - both brutal courses, known for their climbing terrain, which suits her to perfection. These two races take place on the 14th and 15th of December so she will have around month and a half of racing in her schedule before aiming for the World Championships in Liévin, France, on the 1st of February. Over the opening weeks of the season we are having Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado, Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand in a very similar level and each already with victories to their name.