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Puck Pieterse will begin the primary of 11 races that may make up her 2024-2025 cyclocross season on Sunday on the UCI Cyclocross World Cup in Namur.
“I’m trying ahead to my return to the sphere in Namur,” Pieterse advised Het Nieuwsblad from the Fenix-Deceuninck coaching camp in Benicassim, Spain.
“I’m motivated for each race, however all the time somewhat bit extra for Namur. It is without doubt one of the most stunning circuits, I wish to experience there. That all the time supplies additional motivation. And I’m initially with a recent thoughts.”
The 22-year-old is coming off a two-month break from competitors, longer than typical after she focused the UCI Gravel World Championship title in October, ending fourth, and a busy street and mountain bike season earlier than that which included the Olympic Video games and Tour de France, the place she received stage 4 in Liège.
“I’m beginning to get the itch now,” Pieterse mentioned. “I’ve adopted plenty of competitions on tv up to now few weeks and now I really feel like beginning myself. The primary two weeks of my vacation I didn’t contact the bike, after that I solely cycled for 2 weeks after I felt prefer it. I’ve been coaching structured once more since November. That’s not very lengthy, however I nonetheless hope to achieve my stage of the previous winters.”
Though her 2024 season has been busy and her begin in cyclocross delayed, Pieterse has 12 races deliberate earlier than Worlds, most of that are World Cups with the penultimate spherical in Maasmechelen the one possibly on her calendar.
“I’m going to do virtually as many cyclocross races as final season. I don’t suppose I’ll ever have ridden so many competitions in such a brief time frame, I’m additionally going to experience double weekends for the primary time.”
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Her first double weekend comes subsequent week with the World Cups in Hulst and Zonhoven, adopted by the ‘kerstperiode’ races in Gavere, Diegem and Baal on December 26, 30 and January 1.
“I noticed on tv that the extent of the highest athletes is shut collectively,” Pieterse mentioned. “Final yr the variations have been larger. I really need to compete for the win instantly and hope to be on the very best step as usually as potential. However on the similar time, I’ve to attend and see how my situation is, and the way my preparation will repay. The World Championships in Liévin in early February are my essential aim of the yr.”
The Namur World Cup, with its steep climbs across the citadel, is without doubt one of the most demanding circuits on the calendar.
“I notice that this isn’t the course the place you begin calmly and sit on the wheels for some time. In Namur, the strongest usually wins, hiding your self is unimaginable. And but I secretly hope that I’m already adequate to battle for the victory. Whether or not that hope is justified, we are going to see on Sunday.
“I’ll in all probability be on the third beginning row. In precept, in Namur, you will have sufficient time to maneuver up instantly, though there’s a threat that you’ll find yourself within the crowd.”
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Puck Pieterse’s 2024-2025 cyclocross schedule
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Namen – December 15
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Hulst – December 21
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Zonhoven – December 22
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Gavere – December 26
- Superprestige Diegem – December 30
- X2O Trophy Baal GP Sven Nys – January 1, 2025
- X2O Trophy Koksijde – January 3
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Dendermonde – January 5
- Dutch Nationwide Championships – January 12
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Benidorm – January 19
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Maasmechelen (TBC) – January 25
- UCI Cyclocross World Cup Hoogerheide – January 26
- UCI Cyclocross World Championships – Liévin – February 1
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