Tuesday, December 31, 2024 at 8:51 PM
Denise Betsema also raced for Jurgen Mettepenningen’s team in the first months of 2025. There was uncertainty for a long time about the future of the Texel, but she will remain on board at Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines, as Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal will be called from January 1. She is in the team selection for next Friday’s X2O Koksijde.
Betsema was among the top women’s cyclo-cross riders for many years, but things have deteriorated in recent seasons. She no longer reached her old level. Because the results were disappointing compared to the past, it was not obvious that her expiring contract with Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal would be extended. At the end of October she still had several options for the coming season.
“It is still open at the moment,” Betsema said at the time CyclingFlits. “I will of course sit down with Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, but I also have a few offers from other teams. So I’m going to take a closer look at it all now. I haven’t decided yet myself. The coming matches will be very important for my future.”
Mario De Clercq, sports director at Pauwels Sauzen-Bingoal, also addressed the issue at the time. “I don’t know how Jurgen Mettepenningen sees the future with Denise. But I do think it will be fine,” he said. And indeed, things turned out well for Betsema. She will also ride in the colors of Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines in 2025.
She signed a new extension until February 28, 2025. “This extension until the end of the season gives our team and Denise some more space to further explore the future,” said Jurgen Mettepenningen.
Knee
It is certain that Betsema will not play in the X2O Trophy Baal on January 1, just like teammate Michael Vanthourenhout for the men. The 31-year-old rider has problems with her knee, an injury that also caused her to miss the Superprestige Diegem. She will make her return to the X2O Koksijde on Friday, January 4, the team expects. She will then ride in the new Pauwels Sauzen-Cibel Clementines shirt shown below.
