‚I’d rather have one real standout result than three podiums‘ – Puck Pieterse keeps eyes trained on top step as Ardennes campaign continues with defence at La Flèche Wallonne

Final 12 months Puck Pieterse was on the rostrum throughout the three Ardennes Classics however there isn’t any strain to attempt to dwell as much as that file, with the Fenix-Premier Tech rider recognising that regardless that her kind is at an identical stage, the remainder of the peloton is not.

The 23-year-old Dutch rider who final 12 months took third at Amstel Gold Race, gained La Flèche Wallonne and was second at Liège-Bastogne-Liège Femmes , began off this week’s run with tenth within the opening occasion, saying whereas she did not have her „finest legs“ at Amstel Gold Race it was about greater than that..

„The distinction is that the general stage has elevated,“ mentioned Pieterse in a launch from her group. „Extra riders have taken a step ahead, so the racing has develop into tougher.“

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A main instance of this, says Pieterse, is FDJ United-SUEZ who gained De Brabantse Pijl with Célia Gery, Paris-Roubaix with Franziska Koch, Tour of Flanders with Demi Vollering and Strade Bianche with Elise Chabbey.

“They’ve already gained Classics with 4 completely different riders this spring, which says rather a lot. The general stage has clearly elevated.”

That, nevertheless, doesn’t suggest that Pieterse is waving the white flag at a bunch of races that she has been constructing kind towards as a key goal, taking fourth at Milan-San Remo and third at Tour of Flanders, one other key occasion for her, alongside the way in which.

„In fact you need that once more,“ she mentioned of final 12 months’s profitable Ardennes run, „nevertheless it gained’t be simple. I’d fairly have one actual standout end result than three podiums.

„Hopefully I can get that one huge end result, however I don’t really feel the necessity to match something. I’m in fine condition, I’ll do my finest, and we’ll see the place that takes us.”

The rider will probably be turning to mountain biking as soon as once more after the Ardennes, coming again to the highway for the Tour de France, however for this block there at the moment are two extra alternatives to seize that prime step as soon as once more.

What’s extra for Wednesday’s La Flèche Wallonne she will probably be lining up with the primary on her again and with a group behind her that is aware of what it must do to assist her chase it as soon as once more.

„Everybody is aware of what to do on the proper moments,“ mentioned Pieterse. „The ways gained’t change a lot. Like most groups: hold it collectively till the foot of the Mur after which go all out.”

Pieterse may have Lotte Claes, Sara Casasola, Yara Kastelijn, Carina Schrempf and Aniek van Alphen lining up alongside her.

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