"That world title in mountain biking gave her an enormous boost" - Puck Pieterse ready for World Championship gold this winter

This Sunday, Namur will witness the long-awaited return of 22-year-old Puck Pieterse to the cyclocross field. After a season focused on the road and mountain biking, where she achieved remarkable results, including winning the young rider classification and a stage at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, Pieterse is ready to tackle the cyclocross circuit once more.

Ahead of her return, Dutch national coach Gerben de Knegt spoke to Wielerflits, sharing his thoughts on Pieterse's development and her prospects for the season.

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De Knegt emphasised the physical and mental strides Pieterse has made over the past year: “It is clear that Puck has taken another step forward physically. She has simply become stronger; otherwise, you cannot compete in the biggest races on the road and you cannot become world champion. But just as important: she has also taken steps in the knowledge of her own body. She knows better what she has to do to be good; she has also become a step more serious. I am curious how that translates into the cross. I know from speaking to her that she was still disappointed about the cross winter of last year.”

Reflecting on Pieterse's previous cyclocross season, de Knegt acknowledged her struggles but recognised the potential for growth: “Before that cross season, I also had the impression that she was better than ever, but she still had a difficult cross winter. She did not show her full potential there.”

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One of the challenges from last season was her experiment with a high-altitude tent, which didn’t deliver the results she hoped for at the World Championships. “That’s possible at that age, and she learned from it. I think she was also a bit too nonchalant at times. She often got too carried away. That’s also her strong point; seeing where the ship will end up. But if you do that with really good opposition, you have to think more carefully. She’ll also have to be better tactically now. She’s good at that, but it sometimes goes against her feelings.”

Pieterse’s recent success in mountain biking and road racing has undoubtedly boosted her physical capabilities, but de Knegt explained why cyclocross requires a unique skill set: “If your turning point has increased and you can pedal more wattages, then you certainly take that with you.

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"However, if you produce high wattages on a long climb in mountain biking and on the road, you always get a return on that. In cyclocross you never have very long slopes, in Namur especially. You also have to be able to transfer that power and ride smart. She made some mistakes in the past and had to pay for them.”

De Knegt is optimistic about Pieterse's preparation and mental state heading into Namur: “I think she is now sharp and well prepared. In Namur she will also find a course that suits her well. And you mustn't forget: that world title in mountain biking gave her an enormous boost. Then you start thinking: the world title in the cyclocross also fits in well with that list. I know the course in Liévin from the past, and that is a circuit that suits her. I think that is the big goal for this winter.”