WB Zonhoven (women)
Cyclocross World Cup (women)
1.40pm Zonhoven
Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Deceuninck) dived to victory in the Kuilcross in Zonhoven. The Dutch champion immediately suffered a puncture in the World Cup round, but Lucinda Brand was more unlucky. She had to give up her leadership role after a bad fall on her nose.
With her hand in front of her nose, a tearful Lucinda Brand left the scene of the fight after just 2 rounds.
The Dutchman was leading until his front wheel slipped on the hard surface. Her fire fell right on her face, she fears she broke her nose.
One man’s death is another man’s bread. Puck Pieterse, who was 20 seconds behind after a flat tire on the first lap, overtook the unfortunate Brand.
For a moment Inge van Der Heijden seemed to emerge as a challenger, but the battle never became a real one.
Pieterse showed her brilliant technique every time at Kuil, where Van der Heijden dived with even more shaky legs.
Zoe Backstedt, winner yesterday in Gullegem, finished third on the podium. The best Belgian was Laura Verdonschot in 6th place, Sanne Cant in 9th.
Pieterse: “I thought Brand was unlucky”
After victories in Gavere, Diegem and Hulst, Puck Pieterse today achieved victory for the fourth time in a row this winter.
“I’m happy to continue in the right direction,” laughed the Dutch champion.
“When I hit the grass on the first lap, I punctured the rear. There were some rocks there. After the bike change I was behind some traffic jams.”
After Brand’s hard hit, Pieterse ended up in the lead. “When Brand stopped on the bend, I thought she was unlucky. Later I heard that she had fallen, I hope she is okay.”
Pieterse now focuses on the National Championships, where he will defend his title next weekend. “I’m very happy that I had good legs today, this gives confidence for the National Championships.”
WB Zonhoven result (women)
Related:
Phase by phase
The top 10
1. Pieterse (Down)
2. Van der Heijden (Ned) on 24″
3. Backstedt (GBr) op 41″
4. Worst (Ned) op 1’19”
5. Zemanova (Tsj) on 1’24”
6. Verdonschot at 1’29”
7. Bentveld (Ned) at 2’15”
8. Vas (Hon) at 2’37”
9. I can’t at 2’49”
10. Molengraaf (Ned) at 2’58”
4th consecutive for Pieterse
Pieterse resists and can raise his arms in the air for the fourth time in a row this winter.
What if Brand hadn’t fallen so badly? The Dutchman was 20 seconds ahead of Pieterse when her nose fell and she gave up.
Verdonschot
In the battle for 4th place, Verdonschot now sees Annemarie Worst break away. 5th place seems to be the maximum achievable for our compatriot.
Pieterse does business at the World Cup
Pieterse tackles the last hectometres. It will be his third consecutive victory in a World Cup cross this season.
Pieterse (3rd) will also be golden in the World Cup ranking, because numbers 1 (Alvarado) and 2 (Brand) did not score points today.
Verdonschot is fighting for the top 5
Today’s best Belgian will be Laura Verdonschot. The only question remains: where will she end up? Verdonschot competes with Worst and Zemanova for 4th place.
Sanne Cant, the 2nd Belgian in the race, is around 9th position. 1 minute behind Verdonschot, Cant’s main rival at the Belgian Championships in Meulebeke next weekend.
Situation after 5 of the 6 rounds
1. Pieterse (Down)
2. Van der Heijden (Ned) at 20″
3. Backstedt (GBr) op 38″
4. Zemanova (Tsj) on 1’28”
5. Worst (Ned) op 1’31”
6. Verdonschot
7. Bentveld (Ned) at 1’42”
8. Vas (Hon) at 2’17”
9. Molengraaf (Ned) at 2’32”
10. I can’t
Last lap
Pieterse has yet to complete 1 lap through the Kuil van Zonhoven. His advantage over Van der Heijden is quite reassuring: 20 seconds.
4th win in a row?
Pieterse returns to cycling. Without incident, he is on his way to his fourth consecutive victory, after Gavere, Diegem and Hulst.
16 seconds
The difference isn’t that big. Van der Heijden follows Pieterse by 16 seconds. Backstedt drops through the Kuil, 26 seconds behind Pieterse.
Can someone bring Pieterse back?
Pieterse impeccable
Every time Pieterse enters the Kuil, it is a feast for the eyes. Inge van der Heijden comes down with even more tremors in her legs.
Situation after 4 of the 6 rounds
1. Pieterse (Down)
2. Van der Heijden (Ned) on 14″
3. Backstedt (GBr) op 23″
4. Worst (Ned) op 1’15”
5. Verdonschot
6. Zemanova (Tsj)
7. Bentveld (Ned)
8. Vas (Hon) at 1’45”
9. Molengraaf (Ned) at 1’55”
10. I can’t on 2’01”
Van der Heijden does not despise
Pieterse remains 100% focused. Obviously he can miss a heavy fall like Lucinda Brand like toothache.
Hunter Van der Heijden keeps pace with Pieterse in this round and follows him 15 seconds behind.
Podium
The top 3 places seem certain for the moment: 1. Pieterse 2. Van der Heijden 3. Backstedt.
The gap between number 3 Backstedt and the first pursuers rises to 38 seconds.
Pieterse is gaining ground
While Brand receives treatment from the Red Cross and a stabilizing cotton ball in his nose, Pieterse distances himself further from Van der Heijden. His advantage is 15 seconds.
Pieterse overtakes the unfortunate Brand and seems to have a clear path to victory
Situation after 3 of the 6 rounds
1. Pieterse (Down)
2. Van der Heijden (Ned) on 8″
3. Backstedt (GBr) op 18″
4. Zemanova (Tsj) on 1’00”
5. Verdonschot
6. Bentveld (Ned)
7. The Worst (Ned)
8. Vas (Hon) at 1’18”
9. I can’t at 1’24”
10. Molengraaf (Down)
The fire can no longer continue.
Drama! Brand hits his face hard against the ground and can no longer move forward
Assignment fire
With her hand in front of her nose, Lucinda Brand gives up in tears. How unfortunate for the Dutchman, who was supremely in the lead until the crash.
A broken nose is feared.
The fire hits the ground hard
The fire falls heavily on the face
Lucinda Brand touches her nose in tears. Her front runner slipped off but her front wheel landed on her face.
That doesn’t sound like a good thing.
The moat
In the Pit, Brand bravely throws himself to the ground. Pieterse also executed a flawless turn at Kuil.
Pieterse combative
Pieterse now throws the last sandbag into the sea with Backstedt. Now he must focus only on the lone leader Brand.
The difference: 20 seconds.
Situation after 2 of the 6 rounds
1. Brand (Ned)
2. Pieterse (Ned) on 19″
3. Backstedt (GBr) op 20″
4. Van der Heijden (Ned) on 28″
5. Zemanova (Tsj) op 49″
6. The Worst (Ned)
7. Bentveld (Ned)
8. Verdon shot 56″
9. Vas (Hon) at 1’05”
10. Schreiber (Lux) at 1’09”
11. I can’t
19 seconds
Carl Berteele’s chronograph contradicts time measurements: the difference between Brand and Pieterse/Backstedt is 19 seconds.
Pieterse approaches
In his chase for delay, Pieterse now nails Backstedt on his fork. The Dutchman is also chipping away at his deficit and is now 16 seconds behind Brand.
I can’t in 11th position
The Belgian champion comes back after a disappointing start. I can’t smell the top 10.
Lucinda Brand seeks victory in Zonhoven.
Lead is on the rise
Lucinda Brand’s empire continues to expand. The Dutch now has a 16-second bonus over first pursuer Zoe Backstedt.
Puck Pieterse remains stuck at 20 seconds, in the company of compatriot Inge van der Heijden.
Situation after 1 round
1. Lucinda Brand (Ned)
2. Inge van der Heijden (Ned) on 12″
3. Zoe Backstedt (GBr)
4. Puck Pieterse (Ned) at 15″
5. Annemarie Worst (Ned) 25″
6. Leonie Bentveld (Ned)
7. Marie Schreiber (Lux)
8. Krystina Zemanova (Czech Republic)
9. Laura Verdonschot on 30″
10. Lauren Molengraaf (Ned)
Strong Brand pulls away from the others in the first lap
Reaching Pieterse
Pieterse rolls up the 3 women in front of her and has now started the hunt for the top 3 in this cross.
Leader Brand has already been free for 10 seconds.
Pieterse has to overtake after a flat tire.
Strong support
The only one who can still keep Brand in his sights is British talent Zoe Backstedt. The 19-year-old won yesterday at Gullegem and has apparently recovered well.
Fire makes a hole
Pieterse is in trouble when Vas holds everyone in an ascending strip of sand.
This is grist for Lucinda Brand’s mill, which is already a ways ahead of the competition.
Pieterse suffers a puncture on the first lap and can immediately forget about a good start
Flat tire Pieterse
Oh, oh, oh… Puck Pieterse loses, but luckily the tackle station is within reach.
Lucinda Brand now does the honors at the head of the line. Pieterse rejoins the group in 8th place.
Puck Pieterse is cold at the start.
First time Pit
Buttocks clenched, Pieterse is the first to dive into the Pit. We see no accidents, everyone leaves the first Kuilpassage unharmed.
START!
Marie Schreiber’s Cannon Launch! The Luxembourg champion is the first to see the Kuil in her field of vision.
Puck Pieterse also got off to a great start and soon took over from Schreiber in the conducting department.
No Van Empel and Alvarado
Don’t look for the rainbow shirt among today’s women. Fem van Empel doesn’t have Kuil van Zonhoven on her agenda. World Cup leader Ceylin Alvarado (back pain) is also missing.
As a result, it appears to be a battle between Lucinda Brand and Puck Pïeterse. And what do our compatriots Sanne Cant and Laura Verdonschot have in store under the sand?
Main participants
Puck Pieterse (Ned)
Lucinda Brand (Ned)
Annemarie Peggiore (Ned)
Manon Bakker (Down)
Denise Betsema (Ned)
True I can’t
Laura Verdonschot
Zoe Backstedt (GBr)
Kata Blanka vase (female)
Krystina Zemanova (Czech Republic)
Cyclocross World Cup
2024-01-07 13:32:00
#Puck #Pieterse #reigns #Kuil #bad #fall #Lucinda #Brand