"I can certainly be satisfied with bronze medal" - European champion Puck Pieterse is happy to take podium at World Championships

No gold, but bronze for Puck Pieterse at the MTB Cross Country World Championships. The Dutch was on the podium in Scotland together with winner Pauline Ferrand-Prevot and Loane Lecomte. She had hoped to be two steps higher, she told WielerFlits afterwards.

"My goal was to have twenty seconds after the first lap and to build on that," Pieterse said about her expectations beforehand. "But I rode at my very best and they still rode away from me… Then I thought: maybe they'll blow themselves up, but that didn't happen. That was definitely mentally tough. But I had already discussed it with Gerben that such a scenario was also possible and that it would certainly not be the end of the race."

Pieterse had to fight for her bronze medal until the very last moment, but was just able to beat Mona Mitterwallner in that battle. "She had a few bike lengths actually, even after the second to last descent. But then, on the Short Track climb, I gave it my all. After that I knew that in the sprint I have a higher peak power than her. Gerben and the whole team were also on the sidelines. They shouted, 'She can't sprint, she can't sprint'. Then I thought, yes, that's right. And I do, haha."

How does bronze feel now? "The track does not lie. I think if you've given it your all, if you've done everything you can, then I can certainly be satisfied that I'm riding to the bronze medal, at my first world championship with the elite, while I'm still a U23 next year. My season was also successful, with a European title and a national title. I am now leading the World Cup, with four races to go. I hope I can finish it off too."