“That world title has always been the goal”: Puck Pieterse sets sights on Hulst after perfect World Cup weekend
Cyclocross
Puck Pieterse left Hoogerheide with another World Cup win, but her focus was already fixed firmly on what comes next. After completing a flawless weekend with back-to-back victories, the Dutch rider made it clear that the bigger target remains the World Championships in Hulst.
Speaking after the race to Sporza, Puck Pieterse framed her Hoogerheide win as a test of judgement and execution rather than dominance. Reflecting on the constantly regrouping race, she pointed to the way Amandine Fouquenet shaped the dynamics from the front.
Fouquenet “rode a tactical race, which meant they kept coming back from behind,” Pieterse said, explaining why the contest resisted an early split.
Rather than forcing the issue, Pieterse relied on precision to gradually tip the balance. “I think I was a little better through the corners, and that made the difference,” she said, identifying the small margins that eventually allowed her to distance Kristyna Zemanova and secure victory in the closing moments.
Hulst firmly in focus
Despite the momentum of two World Cup wins in two days, Pieterse was quick to shift the conversation away from form and towards ambition. “The World Championships? That world title has always been the goal,” she said, underlining that Hoogerheide was part of a broader build-up rather than a destination.
Her assessment of what lies ahead was measured rather than triumphant. “It will be a fiercely contested battle,” Pieterse added, acknowledging the depth of the field she will face when the rainbow jersey is on the line.
The timing, however, could hardly be better. Victories in Maasmechelen and Hoogerheide have shown Pieterse capable of winning in different ways, from seizing decisive moments to managing long tactical battles. As she now turns her attention to UCI Cyclocross World Championships Hulst, the message from Hoogerheide was not just that she is winning, but that she is winning with intent, clarity, and a singular objective in mind.
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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