Puck Pieterse secures silver medal in Dutch National Cyclocross Championship
Puck Pieterse finished second the Dutch National Cyclocross Championship in the muddy course of Hoogeveen. From the start, the FENIX-Deceuninck rider and defending champion battled Lucinda Brand (Baloise Trek Lions), who ultimately won the national title by extending its lead to 45 seconds after Pieterse slipped in the fourth and last lap.
“It wasn’t my best race,” said the 21-year-old cyclist to specialized media WielerFlits. “I had a good start and rode where I wanted to, but Lucinda was a bit faster today. You could see that she had a bit more power, especially on the straights. You always have to have confidence, but I don’t think I came into the race in my best shape.”
Anemarie Worts (Cyclocross Reds) swooped in to take the bronze medal, surprising Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who crossed the finish line in fourth position. FENIX-Deceuninck rider Yara Kastelijn finished 8th.
Sanne Cant wins 15th Belgian National Cyclocross Championship
Sanne Cant set an unprecedent record on Saturday when she claimed the Belgian National Cyclocross Championship title for the 15th consecutive year. In a muddy and battled race, the Crelan-Corendon rider outsmarted Laura Verdonschot (De Ceuster – Bonache) in a final sprint in Meulebeke.
Her teammate Marion Norbert Riberolle completed the podium while FENIX-Deceuninck’s Marthe Truyen and Julie De Wilde crossed the finish line in 10th and 15th positions, respectively.
In an interview with Belgian media Sporza, Cant hinted that she is considering retiring after next year’s season. “I’m probably at the start of my last Belgian Championship. So, I’m really going to enjoy it. I will certainly take the time to think back on all the wonderful things, but I would like to win that 15th. That’s the intention, otherwise I wouldn’t have started today. I’m going to do everything I can.”
The Belgian National Cyclocross Championship Elite women category was introduced in 2001 and has been held yearly since. Cant, who rides with FENIX-Deceuninck during the road season, has won 15 of the 24 editions.
FENIX to sponsor CX rider Ryan Kamp
Ryan Kamp will no longer be riding in the black outfit he wore for the first week and a half of 2024. Starting at the Dutch National Cyclocross Championships, which will take place in Hoogeveen on Saturday 14, he will be sporting the iconic FENIX Verde Comodoro colour.
At the beginning of the year, Italian bike manufacturer Colnago and component producer Campagnolo ensured that Kamp could remain a pro rider on an individual basis. Now, FENIX is joining Kamp as a first jersey sponsor.
“As an Italian brand, we are proud to support this new FENIX project. It has an innovative approach and relies on Made-in-Italy partners. We are excited to be part of the development and growth of this young and talented rider,” said Stefano Mion, CEO of Arpa Industriale, the company that created FENIX innovative materials for interior design.
Italian shoe supplier Sidi and clothing manufacturer Alé, who made the iconic Verde Comodoro outfit, are supporting the project built around Kamp.
Superprestige Diegem: the winner is Puck Pieterse
Two days after the great first victory of the season in the UCI Cyclo Cross World Cup (here the news), Puck Pietersen won the penultimate round of the Superprestige series in Diegem, Belgium.
“It went really well, and so I’m happy about that,” Pieterse said at the finish line.
The Dutch champion closed the race in 47:06, just 27 seconds ahead of the Alpecin-Deceuninck rider Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado. Inge van der Heijden (Crelan-Corendon) finished in third position more than 34 seconds back. It was an authoritative performance by Pieterse who immediately separated from the other riders during the first lap, and didn’t have difficulties for the rest of the race. The Superprestige Diegem was held under the evening lights and many people came out to watch what was later called “the Puck Pieterse nighttime show.”
The FENIX-Deceuninck rider demonstrated to be in a magical moment. She has been consistent throughout the season, making it hard for other athletes to defeat her.
Puck Pieterse takes first win of the season in Gavere
After seven consecutive podiums, Puck Pieterse took a great victory at the women’s elite Cyclo-Cross World Cup race in Gavere, Belgium.With a strong performance, the FENIX-Deceuninck rider crossed first the finish line in 55’ 09” ahead of Fem van Empel (Jumbo-Visma) and her former teammate Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado (Alpecin-Deceuninck). On the first two laps, the Dutch champion battled with Ceylin until she pushed ahead to go solo and build a gap over the rest of the group. A small but crucial advantage which led Puck to win the race. Alvarado was in second place for much of the race but was overtaken by Van Empel just on the final lap.
“It feels great to be back on top, especially on such a tough course,” said Pieterse immediately after the race. “Of course, I’m really happy, I really wanted to win and when it works out it’s the best.”
Her FENIX-Deceuninck teammates congratulated Puck who,for sure, deserved it after such a great accomplishment!
UCI World Cup Troyes 2023: Silver again for Puck
She did it again. On the French roads of Troyes, Puck Pieterse crossed the finish line second, in what was her second race with the new FENIX-Deceuninck jersey. 2 races, 2 second places: not bad at all!
Pieterse was back in action after taking a month’s break.The Dutch rider immediately proved to be in perfect condition. With a great performance she was able to finish just 21 seconds apart from Ceylin del Carmen Alvarado of Alpecin-Deceuninck.
Other two athletes, who do road racing on with FENIX- Deceuninck, also managed top 10 results in Troyes: Inge van der Heijdenm obatianed 5th place while Annemarie Worst finished in 7th position. Both the riders take part to the cyclo-cross races with different teams, Crelan-Coredon and Cyclocross Reds, respectively.
Thanks to the performances of the riders of Ciclismo Mundial teams, which includes FENIX- Deceuninck, the 2023 Cyclo-Cross season is becoming very exiting. We can’t wait to see how the next race will unfold!
A great debut for Puck!
Puck Pieterse had her debut with the new FENIX-Deceuninck jersey in the first race of the UCI Cyclo-cross World Cup, and what a wonderful race it was. The Dutch rider crossed second the finish line of the Waterloo circuit, in Wisconsin, USA, just behind her fellow countrywoman Fem Van Empel.
“I made a number of mistakes in the initial phase, my cross technique clearly let me down. It’s only been a week since I was on the MTB, which is difficult,” said the 21-year-old Dutch national champion in her post-race interview.
Congratulation Puck, we are sure that this is only the beginning of a successful season! We are all very curious to follow the next Cyclo-cross challenges and view the performances of all the FENIX-Deceuninck riders.
FENIX-Deceuninck expands to cyclocross and mountainbike
Taking a new step towards a multidisciplinary philosophy, FENIX-Deceuninck women’s team will also be competing in 2023-2004 CX and 2024 MTB seasons. 21-year-old Dutch cyclocross champion, Puck Pieterse, will be the leader of the team, which also includes Marthe Truyen, Yara Kastelijn, Millie Couzens and Julie De Wilde.
Pieterse made her debut in the new FENIX-Deceuninck jersey at the UCI World Cup race in Waterloo, United States, that took place on October 15. She crossed the finish line in second position.
All her team members, who have a CX past but have shifted their focus to a road career, will compete in a limited cyclocross program over the next months.
The team was established in 2020 with a roster of top cyclo-cross specialists with the aim to offer an interesting road program during the spring and summer months before the CX season. In 2023, FENIX-Deceuninck became a UCI WorldTour team. The expansion follows its previous focus on the road and activities in e-racing and gravel.
Christina Schweinberger finishes second at Chrono des Nations
FENIX-Deceuninck rider Christina Schweinberger finished the final time trial of the season with a second place at the Chrono des Nations in Les Herbiers, France. The 27.23 km course was won by fellow Austrian Anna Kiesenhofer by one second.
Schweinberger’s 2023 season was several podiums, especially during ITTs. In this specialty, the 26-year-old Austrian rider obtained the third place at the European Continental Championship, and the second at both the World Championships and the National Championships Austria.
VAN DER POEL WINS THE 2023 UCI WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Mathieu van der Poel conquered the 2023 UCI World Championship and wrote a new page in the history of the cycling thanks to an epic and spectacular win on the Scotland roads.
The Dutchman crossed first the finish line after more than 6 hours and 270 kms, from Edinburgh to Glasgow, ahead of the Belgian Wout van Aert, Slovenia Tadej Pogacar and Danish Mads Pedersen. The 28-year-old Alpecin-Deceuninck captain attacked the group of riders in the last 25 kms and held on to his time advantage despite a crash 16 kms before the finish line.
After the race, van der Poel said that he was “overwhelmed” by the victory. “It means everything,” the Dutchman said of his title. “It was one of the biggest goals I had left and to win it today was amazing. It almost completes my career, in my opinion. It’s maybe my biggest victory on the road.”
It was a remarkable win for Van der Poel, who had been targeting the rainbow jersey for several years. He is the first Dutch to conquer the rainbow jersey in almost 40 years, and the first cyclocross world champion to also win the road world championships on the same year.
