Denise Betsema will not immediately disappear from the field. The Dutch woman’s contract with Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal (now Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines) expired on December 31, but manager Jurgen Mettepenningen has given her an extension until the end of the cross season.
A few years ago, Denise Betsema was one of the leading figures in women’s cyclo-cross, but in recent years she has been overshadowed by her compatriots, so she rarely takes a leading role anymore.
The soon-to-be 32-year-old Betsema had to fear for her place in Jurgen Mettepenningen’s team, especially because her contract expired on December 31, 2024.
Ultimately, both parties reached an agreement at the last minute to add a few extra weeks, until February 28, 2025.
“This gives our team and Denise some more space to look further into the future,” says Mettepenningen.
So on Friday Betsema will be at the start in Koksijde, the cross that she won in 2018.
