Alvarado's mistake gave Pieterse the Lead, Betsema unexpectedly rises at National Championships

The women's national cyclo-cross championships in the Netherlands were right up Puck Pieterse's alley on Sunday. The Fenix-Deceuninck rider broke away from the competition early on and was never caught, crossing the finish line well ahead of her rivals. Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado and Denise Betsema claimed the remaining podium spots, both sharing their thoughts after the race.

Alvarado spent most of the race riding solo, securing second place. She watched Pieterse pull away in the opening phase after making a mistake herself. "I pushed hard early on, and we had a gap, but then my handlebars twisted, and Puck was gone. After that, it was basically over, which was a shame," she admitted.

"Puck pulled further away with every lap, so you have to admit she was the strongest," said Alvarado, who managed to hold off Marianne Vos. "The gap was big, and I kept pushing, but I think I can be satisfied. I started with some doubts after a physically tough week—I wasn’t feeling well and had some back issues. I just hoped everything would hold up, and it did."

The grueling mud course in Oisterwijk added to the challenge. "The running definitely isn't easy," Alvarado said. "It would’ve been easier if there had been more riding, but it is what it is. Now I’m heading to Spain, where I’ll also race in Benidorm and start preparing for the World Championships. But first, I need to make sure I’m back to being 100% fit."

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3rd place feels like a victory for Betsema

Denise Betsema never let up and, in the penultimate lap, closed in on Marianne Vos, eventually overtaking her to claim third place. "This feels like a win. I’ve felt in recent weeks that things were improving, but this is really great. I was already riding well in Gavere and Dendermonde, so I think it’s a combination of the challenging courses and my form getting better again."

Vos, in the end, couldn’t hold on. "Seeing her ahead of me definitely helped. I noticed I was riding faster in some sections, so I just went for it and overtook her directly because Marianne is always a fighter," Betsema said about her competitor from Visma | Lease a Bike.

"I’m no longer bothered by my knee, which used to be an issue," she added. "I had surgery in March, so I started building up intensity quite late. You think it doesn’t matter much, but the level is so high... even a small percentage puts you far behind. And with the busy race schedule, there isn’t much time to train properly or make adjustments. Honestly, I’m already looking forward to next season."

How will she celebrate back on Texel? "Probably just with my family," Betsema said. "This is a big mental boost, and I’m already looking forward to the last stretch of the season. I hope I can keep this momentum going a little longer."

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