Puck Pieterse reflects on a strong and fun spring season: "I've gained a lot of experience"

Puck Pieterse's spring campaign has wrapped up after the Tour of Flanders. The Dutch rider can boast an impressive track record after eight spring races, finishing outside the top ten only once at Strade Bianche (thirteenth). With important months ahead on the mountain bike, races like Paris-Roubaix and the Amstel Gold Race are on the horizon for the coming years. After this spring, one thing is certain: Puck is here to stay.

Finishing eighth in the Omloop, tenth in Hageland, thirteenth in Strade, hitting the podium in Binda and Drenthe, seventh in Wevelgem, fifth in Dwars door Vlaanderen, and finally sixth in the Tour of Flanders, one could hardly ask for more. Yet, Pieterse's spring was even more impressive due to her considerable effort and a highly engaging racing style.

In the Tour of Flanders, the Fenix-Deceuninck rider concluded her spring with a finale against the likes of Lotte Kopecky, Marianne Vos, and Demi Vollering. "This was really a heroic race, I think," Pieterse reminisced. "After the first hour, it started to pour, and the cold, slick conditions made it all the more special."

She put up a strong fight in the challenging finale of the High Mass in cycling. "Being the first to reach the top of the Koppenberg was super special. Then, to be in the mix in the finale, especially on the Oude Kwaremont, was really cool. The same goes for the Paterberg. Climbing those ascents with the best riders is truly amazing."

"Unfortunately, we couldn't catch up to the top three," Pieterse refers to Shirin van Anrooij, Kasia Niewiadoma, and winner Elisa Longo Borghini. "We saw them riding and sprinting, which was a pity. I think it was still possible, but our cooperation was good, not great. We were with two riders from SD Worx-Protime and, of course, Marianne Vos, who you don't necessarily want to go to the finish with. But the other ladies were pretty spent too. All in all, it was an incredibly cool race."

Pieterse's spring leaves her wanting more: "I've gained a lot of experience"

Those 'incredibly cool' and 'awesome' races have Pieterse craving more. "It's a shame my spring season is already ending. I really enjoyed it and would love to do more races. On the other hand, I could continue, but I shouldn't just set aside my other goals," she points out, with a realistic focus on the upcoming Olympic Games in mountain biking, which are approaching faster than everyone thinks.

Now that spring has come to an end, what will she take with her into the coming years? "I'm taking a lot of experience into the next few years. This was my first time in Flanders, and to immediately compete for the win and be in the mix on climbs like the Paterberg is very educational. The same goes for races like Dwars door Vlaanderen, where you learn a lot about how a finale works and the best strategies."

Learning by doing. Pieterse applied the lessons from Wednesday directly to Sunday. "In Dwars door Vlaanderen, I did a bit too much. I had good legs then, but I overexerted and that slightly hindered me in the finale. This time, I tried not to use up all my energy too soon, but I was still pretty spent. In the end, it was about doing the best I could. But I tried to race a bit smarter," she states.

Fenix-Deceuninck's sports director Michel Cornelisse, who thoroughly enjoys working with the multi-talented Pieterse, said earlier this spring: "Puck just needs to be Puck. We let her do her thing, and you don't want to change that racing style. Making mistakes is definitely not a problem," the Amsterdammer said at the time. That Pieterse is closing her spring without a win doesn't bother her. "The switch to victories will come naturally. We're racing with incredibly strong riders, so I'm happy to be competing at this level and doing so well. Every time there was a breakaway in the recent races, I was there. That's a great start, and from there, we can only continue to build," she says encouragingly.