Nothing can be done: supreme Puck Pieterse solos to Dutch title ahead of Alvarado and Betsema

Puck Pieterse has been crowned Dutch cyclo-cross champion in Oisterwijk. Pieterse left Alvarado and Vos behind in the first lap and soloed to victory. Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand were not at the start.

Puck Pieterse only rode her first cross of the season in mid-December, but the all-rounder immediately showed that she was in good shape. She was on the podium 6 times in 7 races and won in Koksijde.

Due to the absence of world champion Fem van Empel and Lucinda Brand, Pieterse was the top favorite at the National Championships in Oisterwijk.

The biggest competition had to come from Ceylin Alvarado and Marianne Vos, but Pieterse sprinted away in the first round. A gap of 6″ quickly became half a minute. Pieterse rode unthreatened to the finish and to her second Dutch title.

Behind Pieterse, Alvarado rode halfway away from Vos and 2nd place was quickly secured. Vos still had to compete for the podium in the final phase, because she had the hot breath of four chasers with Leonie Bentveld, Inge van der Heijden, Denise Betsema and Aniek van Alphen on her neck.

Only Betsema surpassed the 8-time world champion, meaning Vos finished 4th. A real boost for Betsema. It is her best result of the season.