Puck Pieterse and Strade Bianche, a Match Made in Heaven?

Last weekend saw Strade Bianche and with it we saw Puck Pieterse make an explosive debut in the Women's World Tour. She stormed to an incredible 6th place finish in Siena being amongst the leading riders in the race.
So who is Pieterse, where does she come from and where will she go? Today we take a small dive into the short but already impressive career of the Dutch Cyclocross Champion.
Music:
Dreamer - Hazy
• Dreamer by Hazy - Cine...

[@yspegel]

And now she can add the elite women XCO European championship to her impressive list. I just can't be not affected by her enthusiasm and spontaneous actions, I'm a fan!

[@eudaenomic]

It is wonderful to watch Puck. Why should she be restricted by our opinions, who are we to say what a wonderful, beautiful athlete should restrict herself to. I'm certain she will make the best decision and I will support it.

[@fishtacoguy]

I justed started really following CX and watching many of the races in the past two seasons. The young guns in women's CX are UNREAL to watch, including Puck, FVE and Carmen Alvarado. Between them and VDP and WVA battling, it has been some of the most enjoyable racing to watch since the LA years in TDF. I do believe these riders have an affliction for CX in particular, and we should be so lucky to watch them do battle in the fall/winters for the next 7-8 seasons, or more! As they say, Cross is Coming!

[@raketproductie]

Great sum up! Yesterday another big win from Puck in Elite Mtb!

[@ClaudiaMartinez-zn6ki]

Thanks for sharing!

[@mrr2880]

She's a great character and clearly enjoys the fun side of cycling, hope she stays in cross and MTB and makes a few excursions into road..

[@001theus]

fantastic docu ! ❤❤❤❤ and so true ! i love them both F.v.Empel and P.Pietersen . they are both GREAT sports women !!!!

[@livinglifeontheedge4261]

I'm a fan. She is going places and no doubt to the road more and more as it goes. Shame really but makes it exciting to see talents like Puck and Mathieu's whereever they present. That XCO win last weekend was epic! Fem Van Empel was at the front for a bit at the start but finished well back in the pack. Ceylin finished well back but claimed illness. She rode Puck's KZbin course preview with her and that was fun to watch. Wish I understood Dutch!

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

Love this girl 🚴🏽‍♀️👍

[@aliancemd]

I would like to see her ride basically all the bike-related races(Road, Gravel, XC, CX, etc) 😊 She is clearly good, independent of bike or surface

[@RogerioMatos80]

I hope that she continues in Cyclocross, combined with XCO, and maybe some selected road races. I think she have more fun on CX and XCO

[@budycelyn]

i would love to see her take wins in the uci women's xco races, that's my hope for her, i expect she will go road racing but that doesn't interest me as much as off road, but saying that i did enjoy the strade race.

[@rulifaller8474]

Well for now her and Fem van Empel will focusing on MTB rather than road, so I hope that is off road enough for you😉

[@bvanderford]

She seems to excel at everything at the moment. One day classics and mountain bike would be my guess.

[@Andy_ATB]

I've always got the impression she's really an off-road rider, and that is where she wants to be. This summer is a big one, and will tell us if she's capable of going to Paris on the MTB; the Dutch have the two Annes as well established Elite riders - can Puck breakthrough in XC racing at Elite level? She will be super competitive in the Friday night Short Track, but the longer XCO races are something else.

[@scriaschugrieg]

well, you have seen what happened . . . . .

[@KGKabira]

I believe long term she will convert to the road scene but continue to ride 'cross. The near-term challenge is making the Paris Olympics MTB team for the Netherlands, as she has publicly stated. She has a good chance to make the selection, but the Dutch has several strong MTB riders, so it is not guaranteed. Post Paris, I think she will become more like Marianne Vos, and win the rainbow jersey in both the road and cyclocross.

[@scarlettparker7056]

I hope she's riding Paris-Roubaix Femmes…

[@heitorpachec0]

me too, it will be awesome to see she there

[@itsnobbie1212]

While Road seems to be the next logical step, Puck may want to take a very close look at the new Gravel branch. It's fresh, little competition here at the moment, and lots of potential. With her MTB and CX roots, it seems to be ideal for her - lots of prizes to win and money to be made.

[@chyall6752]

She will probably go on orad after taking gold at paris 24, and after some years she will dominate road classics

[@robhendrikx2198]

I don't understand the whole either-or discussion: cross or road. Marianne Vos has been demonstrating for over a decade you can combine the two disciplines and be successful at both. I think both Puck and Fem will follow in her footsteps/tracks.

[@livinglifeontheedge4261]

Pauline Ferrand Prevot is another in that class.

[@solidstream13]

She is the U23 female version of Sagan

[@juancarlosgoio8169]

she is going for the gold medal at the olimpics mtb

[@dennisbean-larson2403]

Dhe could do all three (4?) like Pauline Ferrand Prevot. Theres no money in XCO - for organisations OR the riders. Cross is hands down the best for spectators, but the Classics and tours have all the prestige 11:50 . Racing is only temporary fame, legacy is fame and gortune.

[@justDave3453]

So actually this was a piece about cyclo cross, NOT about the Strade Bianche...

[@Tarmaccyclocross]

Piddocks doped up to the eyeballs like the rest of the team

[@jonb3311]

I have to admit to disliking women's road races, I seldom bother to watch them. Watching a peloton of riders who appear to be out for a weekend ride for 90% of the race is so bloody boring. Cross and MTB are far more exciting/interesting to watch. They are about individual ability and stamina for the whole race, something I enjoyed about Strade Bianche, where Puck raced with hardly any help from her team, against other riders who were mostly paired up. I'd like to see Puck continue race off road for as long as possible, but I'm aware it's likely the real money is earned on the road. We never know, Puck may not enjoy having to ride to team orders and kick road races into touch.