Schreiber couldn’t believe what was happening: "Shit, I can actually win this," while Pieterse made a mistake in every lap

In the muddy World Cup cyclo-cross race in Hulst, the Netherlands, Marie Schreiber powered her way to a stunning victory. Behind her, an intense battle for the podium unfolded, which resulted in Puck Pieterse clinching third place. In the flash interview, both riders shared their thoughts on the day’s race.

The course proved to be a major challenge due to the rain, with muddy sections and slippery inclines. Pieterse admitted it wasn’t an easy day for her. "Almost every lap, I made a mistake somewhere," she admitted honestly. The bridge near the end, following a muddy passage, was particularly difficult for Pieterse.

Text continues below photo.

Pieterse feels she's improving

"Every time I caught up, I made another silly mistake. Then I had to chase again, and that cost me too much energy today." The Dutch rider was also somewhat surprised by Schreiber’s performance. "Everyone knows she has a fast start, and it’s really cool to see her maintain that today. Normally, she drops back a bit. Today, she was super strong."

Pieterse knows from her own experience that a breakthrough like that is bound to happen at some point. "I knew it was only a matter of time before Schreiber held on. That’s how I won my first World Cups too, just by trying. But to sustain it on a course like Hulst and win, that’s impressive."

Pieterse's first races haven't resulted in a win just yet. "Of course, I’d prefer to finish higher than third place, but I’m okay with it. I already felt better than I did in Namur."

Text continues below photo.

Schreiber was in disbelief

After the finish, Pieterse approached Schreiber and called her a legend. Schreiber was clearly pleased with the compliment but still a bit stunned by her own performance. "I don’t really have the words for it. I still can’t really believe it. I had a good start and was leading, and suddenly there was this big gap. I kept expecting people to catch up, but when there were only two laps to go, I thought: 'Shit, I can actually win this.'"

From then on, the rider from Luxembourg focused on avoiding mistakes. "I got really nervous and tried to make as few mistakes as possible. But I didn’t quite manage that. In the final lap, I still made some errors because I realized I was about to win."

It was a bright spot in what had been a tough week for Schreiber. "But I have to be honest, I had a rough week. My dog passed away on Wednesday, and in the last few days, I wasn’t really myself. But on the bike, I could focus. Leading from start to finish is something to be really proud of. Now, I can say I am among the very best riders in cyclo-cross, and that’s an amazing thing to be able to say."

Read also

Boonen hasn’t forgotten about Cancellara’s "motor": "I don’t know what’s true, or what isn't"

Is Van der Poel avoiding Hulst because of last year’s spitting scandal? "We shouldn’t take it the wrong way"

Pogacar intimidates competition just before Christmas dinner with the most prestigious KOM in the training area