Puck Pieterse wanted to do a Van der Poeltje today.
The Dutch champion surprised friend and foe in Hulst and started a solo after barely a minute. She flew ruthlessly over the Fortress Wall – with some impressive descents – away from the rest.
In the background, the Alvarado-Brand-Van Empel trio watched with dismay as Pieterse systematically extended her lead to over 20 seconds. When the latter also collided with Brand’s rear wheel in the descent, the world champion’s spring seemed completely broken.
But that was beyond Alvarado’s willpower. The Dutch continued to put heavy pressure on the lone leader. With success: after a 47-minute solo, Alvarado was still able to connect in the final round.
Up and about it? No no, Pieterse is mentally too strong for that. The Dutch champion relaunched herself in the final kilometer and still received pay for her work.
In the background, Van Empel came in fourth, after Lucinda Brand. Alvarado strengthens her leading position in the World Cup standings with a second place.
Puck Pieterse: “The course was really tricky, you always had to be careful to stay on the bike on the slippery route. Because of the large crowd it was also difficult to hear how much lead you had. I had the feeling that it was remained stable, but in the last lap I suddenly saw that Ceylin (Alvarado, ed.) was very close to me. It was not easy to turn the switch. When you are in the lead, you have the constant pressure of backwards. So I still make a mistake in that last lap.”
“I kept going until I dropped,” Ceylin Alvarado responded. “I got to Puck’s wheel, but I was a bit exhausted. I knew it would be difficult for the win, but I kept fighting.”
“There was not a moment of peace,” Lucinda Brand cried for a long time. “It’s a different fatigue from that high speed than when you have to stomp in the mud all the time.”
“I can be satisfied with how I rode here on this explosive course. I have also taken a step in this domain.”
