Puck Pieterse reveals her two-part strategy in already remarkable Tour de France Femmes

Puck Pieterse is putting together an increasingly impressive Tour de France Femmes. The young Dutch rider from Fenix-Premier Tech once again made it into the right breakaway in Stage 6 and, unlike the previous day, still had enough energy left to sprint for a result. Pieterse was delighted with third place and another ten mountain points toward the polka-dot jersey.

The sixth stage of the Tour unfolded on Thursday in much the same way as the fifth stage had on Wednesday. No breakaway managed to establish itself during the opening phase, allowing Pieterse to collect two points on the first climb. The group that subsequently escaped included Nikola Nosková of Cofidis, who sat second in the mountains classification, but that move was eventually reeled back in.

Pieterse then joined the breakaway that would survive all the way to the finish. That meant two more categorized climbs, worth eight points in total, before the tactical battle for the stage victory began. “It was close. I had hoped Kim [Le Court] would be a little more tired after her late attack in the final few kilometers, but she showed once again just how strong a sprinter she is. I can’t blame myself,” Pieterse told NOS.

According to Pieterse, the amount of energy she has already invested in pursuing the mountains jersey was not the reason she could do no better than third in Stage 6. “I gave a lot yesterday, so today I was able to be a little more patient. I simply couldn’t get past them. Maybe that is something I will learn with a little more experience, but I think I played the finale well.”

With 47 mountain points, Pieterse now has the polka-dot jersey firmly on her shoulders. However, speaking before the start of Stage 6, she stressed that the classification is far from decided. “Mont Ventoux is an hors catégorie climb, so the maximum number of points will be available there. Most likely, one of the general classification riders will win there — someone who could then collect more points in Nice as well.”

“So it is important to have a bit of a buffer,” Pieterse explained. The first general classification contender in the mountains standings is currently sixth. Demi Vollering of FDJ United-SUEZ has seven points, leaving her 40 points behind Pieterse. The Dutchwoman intends to continue using the same adaptable strategy that has served her throughout the first six days of the Tour.

“It will be a mixture of everything, a little like yesterday. At the moment, it is really about making the decision in the moment.”