Puck Pieterse is climbing the ranks at the Tour de France Femmes. The 24-year-old Dutch rider from the Fenix-Premier Tech team secured ninth position in the overall standings after stage three in Poligny. She finished in the main group of 37 cyclists, two minutes and 48 seconds behind stage winner Sigrid Haugset. Still, Pieterse keeps her attention fixed on a specific aim.
Before the race began in Switzerland, Pieterse made it clear what she would not be doing this year. She will not be chasing the general classification. That focus hasn't changed. Even with the new polka dot jersey in her collection, her main target remains the same: to win a stage. 'I’d quite like to win a stage,' she told Cyclingnews and WielerFlits.
A polka dot jersey earned in the moment
Earning the polka dot jersey wasn't something Pieterse had planned ahead of the race. During stage three, she made unexpected moves, attacking the field twice and pulling away from the pack to capture queen of the mountain points. On the first-category climbs of Col de la Faucille and Côte de Lajoux, she earned 13 of those key points. Later, she added three more, finishing second over the Col de la Savine.
The 18 points helped her overtake Océane Mahé, who had been leading the polka dot standings at the start of the stage. Mahé now sits in fourth place. Pieterse leads the standings by four points over Nikola Nosková. When asked if the jersey was intentional, she said it was an easy decision. 'Well, why not?' she replied, adding that she would not let an opportunity to score points slip by.
A new direction and renewed goals
Pieterse first competed in the Tour de France Femmes two years ago, ending in 11th place and taking victory in Liège. This year, she feels a shift in how she's performing and approaching the race. 'I feel good on the bike,' she said, 'so I hope to be able to show myself in the hills.' Her confidence has grown, and she's ready to push through the challenging climbs.
Her top priority is still securing a stage win, similar to her 2024 triumph. If that means not holding onto the polka dots, she said that’s acceptable. For now, she is keeping an open mind, taking the race one step at a time, and letting her performance and the terrain guide her path.
The Tour de France Femmes continues to offer a platform for emerging talents and fierce competition. Pieterse's performance this year, both in the overall standings and with the polka dot jersey, highlights her potential as a rising star in women's cycling. As the race moves forward, all eyes will be on how she handles the upcoming stages and what she can accomplish in her pursuit of a stage victory.
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Dani Ostanek, the senior news writer at Cyclingnews, has been a key voice in women's cycling journalism. Starting as a freelance contributor in 2017, she was later hired as a full-time writer. Her work on major races, such as the Tour de France Femmes, Strade Bianche, Paris-Roubaix, and Tro-Bro Léon, has brought recognition for the coverage of women's cycling to new heights. Her reports focus on the action, the personalities, and the stories behind the sport.
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The Tour de France Femmes continues to grow as a premier event in women's cycling. With strong support from fans and media, the race has become a highlight in the women's calendar, offering a showcase for elite athletes and new talents alike. Riders like Puck Pieterse are proving that the women's peloton is just as competitive and exciting as the men's, setting the stage for a brighter future for the sport.