The 23-year-old Amersfoortse had to settle for sixth place. The world title was for the Swedish Jenny Rissveds. The 31-year-old Olympic champion of Rio 2016 soloed to the gold. Behind her the silver went to the New Zealand Samara Maxwell. The bronze was for the Swiss Alessandra Keller.
Rissveds also won the European title earlier this year. “Everyone will dream of a world title, but to be honest, I never thought so much,” said the thoughtful Swedish in the flash interview. “I really made it a goal this year and also believed in it. I was in shape, managed to drive away from my competitors and barely looked over. I am very proud.”
Pieterse started from the second row and saw how Rissveded was the best way. But behind the Italian Martina Berta, the title defender quickly took third place. Maxwell, the British Evie Richards and Keller, already good for gold on the short race earlier in the week, Pieterse passed while Berta gave the ground price. A fall from Keller broke the pace in the front, making Pieterse connection again. But in the third round the Dutch itself made a mistake and she fell behind something again.
Halfway it was clear that Rissveds, Keller and Maxwell were the best women in the competition. Pieterse and Richards saw the three occasionally ride ahead, but could not find the connection. Rissveds ran alone in the penultimate round, while Pieterse had to go to the material zone with a flat tire. Maxwell, the most constant in the past season, made another attempt to drive to the Swedish but did not succeed in that setup.