Pieterse (20) was in front together with classification leader Fem van Empel when the latter was hit by a material breakdown. The problems with her necklace cost Van Empel a minute. She could not make up for that difference in the remainder of the cross. Van Empel, winner of the first four World Cup competitions this season, finished second at 42 seconds. Third place was for Shirin van Anrooij, also a young Dutchman. Next week is the eighth cross for the World Cup in Antwerp.
,,I saw that Fem was stronger than me on the climbs. I got a little lucky with her fall. Otherwise it would have been a really tough fight”, said Pieterse, who saw Van Empel go down in the third round. That moment helped her win.
Van Empel, also only 20: ,,I fought until the end, also to keep the riders behind me away from me. Second place was the highest possible given the circumstances. In any case, I am doing good business for the classification,” said the rider who will switch from Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal to Jumbo-Visma on January 1.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss a thing of the stars.