Puck Pieterse takes a month off cyclocross season, likely builds up towards World Championships

Puck Pieterse has had an extraordinary season and will now take time off. The 21-year supertalent will not be - for the time being at least - focusing on the cups during the cyclocross season, instead focusing on recovery now and looking towards later goals.

"I’ll now take some time off and continue racing at the end of November," Pieterse said in an Instagram post. The Dutchwoman proved herself as a top rider in the field last winter, and throughout 2023 went on to stun the Mountain Biking field. European Champion and victor of several races throughout the season, she has become one of the very best in both disciplines.

However, as is the case with other big figures who race across multiple disciplines, the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider has decisions to make. And after several months of high intensity racing, she prefers taking rest now instead of taking on the full winter of racing. She raced the Waterloo World cup where she was second behind Fem van Empel, and is expected to headline a few more quality battles in the upcoming months.