{"id":198439,"date":"2025-04-24T07:50:12","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T07:50:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/?p=198439"},"modified":"2025-04-24T07:50:12","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T07:50:12","slug":"pieterse-secures-fleche-wallonne-triumph-i-listened-to-my-sports-director-for-a-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.welovecycling.com\/wide\/2025\/04\/24\/pieterse-secures-fleche-wallonne-triumph-i-listened-to-my-sports-director-for-a-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Pieterse Secures Fl\u00e8che Wallonne Triumph: “I Listened to My Sports Director for a Change”"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a thrilling finale on the iconic Mur de Huy, 22-year-old Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) claimed her first major Classics victory at La Fl\u00e8che Wallonne, outduelling fellow Dutchwoman Demi Vollering (FDJ-SUEZ) in a dramatic uphill sprint.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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With just 150 metres to go on the brutal climb\u2014its gradients spiking up to 19%\u2014Pieterse rose out of the saddle and surged past Vollering, last year’s winner, to take the win by two seconds. It was only the second road race victory of her young career, following a stage win at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift<\/a> in 2023.<\/p>\n

“It took everything, but I’m really happy to get a victory here,” Pieterse said afterwards, breathless and beaming at the finish line.<\/p>\n

A former world champion in cyclo-cross and mountain biking, Pieterse only transitioned to road racing in 2024\u2014but she\u2019s made an instant impact, never finishing outside the top 10 so far this season.<\/p>\n

“We were always in control with the team, especially when we came to the local lap,” she continued. “On the bike, I thought, ‘Now I really, really have to finish it off, to give them something back’. I’m just super happy to get it. I think I did everything good this race. I attacked where everybody says you have to attack. I listened to my sports director for a change,” she added with a wink.<\/p>\n

The day began under heavy rain in Huy, with the peloton hit by a major absence: Anna van der Breggen<\/a> (SD Worx-Protime), the seven-time winner of the race, withdrew before the start to avoid worsening an illness.<\/p>\n

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Zobrazit p\u0159\u00edsp\u011bvek na Instagramu<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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P\u0159\u00edsp\u011bvek sd\u00edlen\u00fd UCI Women\u2019s WorldTour (@uci_wwt)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n