🚵🇧🇪 | Puck Pieterse en Inge van der Heijden hebben in het zware zand van Koksijde een mooi gaatje geslagen op Lucinda Brand en Fem van Empel! #X2OBadkamersTrofee 📺 Stream cross op HBO Max
Pieterse wins impressively in the dunes of Koksijde, Brand and Van Empel join her on the podium
Cyclo-crossFriday, 03 January 2025 at 16:27
Puck Pieterse won the X2O Trophy cross in Koksijde. The Fenix-Deceunick rider was nearly faultless on the sand/dune passages of the dune cross in Koksijde. In short, it was an impressive performance by the Dutch rider. In the back, Inge van der Heijden seemingly kept up for a long time, but she did not have enough power to go. Lucinda Brand and Fem van Empel therefore battled for second place. The diesel engine of the rider from Baloise Glowi Lions was the deciding factor in the end.
Minor differences immediately emerged after the first sand passage over the dune, a section where the riders had to climb the dune on foot. A leading group of three formed: Van der Heijden, Pieterse, and Brand. Shortly behind, Van Empel and Sanne Cant followed as a duo in pursuit.
Pieterse turns out to be a sand specialist
The next dune section became a tough one for Brand. A mistake forced her to drop out early, and she lost precious time. Halfway through the race, we saw a leading duo emerge with Pieterse and Van der Heijden, while Van Empel chased shortly behind as a loner. Further behind, the groups were already separated quite a bit.
Entering the second lap, Pieterse emerged as a sand specialist, although it was not her specialty. Van der Heijden was the only one able to stay close and followed at four seconds. Van Empel was already looking at a big gap and visibly having some trouble. In addition, she saw Brand return. They followed at twenty seconds. Further on in the field, the differences were already increasing.
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Van Empel struggled on the sand sections
Pieterse and Van der Heijden fought an exciting battle for the lead in the second lap. The two Dutch riders stayed close to each other, but again, Pieterse managed to take the lead in the second part of the course. That part seemed to suit her better than the Crelan-Corendon rider. Although the gap had narrowed earlier, it increased back to eleven seconds in Pieterse's favor as the third lap entered.
Van Empel was stuck behind on a stretch of dune, another example of a somewhat difficult race from the world champion. In the third round, Pieterse remained (almost) error-free. Meanwhile, Van der Heijden had to acknowledge her superiority and was overtaken by Van Empel, who got a little better, and Brand.
Behind Pieterse there was an exciting battle
Pieterse wins impressively
Entering the fourth lap, we saw a chasing trio 29 seconds behind the dominant Pieterse. The lead rider rode impressively strong and appeared to be on her way to her first win of the season. Behind her, the three Dutch riders were close together. Inge van der Heijden seemed the best in the sand/dune passages; Van Empel was simply the strongest, and Lucinda Brand used her experience optimally.
In the fourth and second-to-last lap, Van der Heijden eventually dropped out. She could no longer keep up with the pace of the chasers and had to let the rest go. Meanwhile, Van Empel, especially Lucinda Brand, had come closer; the difference with leader Puck Pieterse was still twenty seconds. Still, that gap seemed too large to overcome in only one lap. But it indicated that the riders of Visma l Lease a Bike and Baloise Glowi Lions were making a comeback. However, they needed a mistake from Pieterse.
But the mistakes didn't happen, so Puck Pieterse rode to victory in the dunes unchallenged and with an impressive performance. It was a welcome victory, as her last win was from almost a year ago. Lucinda Brand finished second, at nineteen seconds, while last year's winner, Fem van Empel, finished third, at 39 seconds.
Results X2O Trophy Koksijde 2025 - women
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
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Latest Comments
- This was very informative! Luiz Antonio Duarte Ferreiraluizantonioduarteferreira02-01-2025
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024