Puck Pieterse: "If there are points to be gained, I won't let them slip away."

Dutchwoman Puck Pieterse , captain of Fenix-Premier Tech in this Tour de France Femmes , is having a starring role in the general classification, even though that wasn't exactly her initial plan. Heading into the Dijon time trial, the 24-year-old sits in ninth place overall, in excellent company among the top favorites for the yellow jersey, despite Sigrid Haugset, winner of the third stage with a sensational solo breakaway, having already opened up a two-minute lead over all her rivals.

But don't be fooled by the numbers: Pieterse had made it clear before leaving the Grand Départ in Switzerland that she wouldn't be competing for the overall title this week. And on Monday evening, after taking the polka-dot jersey, she didn't change a thing.

“It’s still like this actually, and as far as the polka-dot jersey is concerned, I’m not sure what the plan is yet,” Pieterse told Cyclingnews and WielerFlits after finishing in the main group of 37 riders, 2:48 behind Haugset in Poligny.

A day to remember for the climbers' classification: Pieterse broke away from the peloton twice to take the lead on both the Col de la Faucille and the Côte de Lajoux, both first-category climbs, collecting a whopping 13 KOM points. It was pure fantasy cycling : no deliberate strategy, just instinct.

Later in the stage, with Haugset already on her 89km solo ride to glory, Pieterse added another three points, crossing the Col de la Savine in second place. A total of 18 points allowed her to overtake Océane Mahé (Ma Petite Enterprise), the leader of the mountains classification at the start of the day, and wear the polka-dot jersey on the podium. Mahé slipped to fourth place after the third stage, while Pieterse now leads Nikola Nosková by four points heading into the fourth stage.

For those who follow fantasy cycling, this is a valuable sign: Pieterse is a rider who knows how to seize opportunities, even without a precise plan. "There was nothing else to do, so if there are points up for grabs, I won't let them slip away," she explained, reiterating, however, that her primary goal remains a stage win, completing what she accomplished in Liège in the fourth stage of the 2024 edition.

"I'd like to win a stage. So, if that means losing the polka dots, so be it. But we're taking it day by day, and it also depends on how fresh I am," added the Dutch rider, leaving the door open to multiple scenarios for those who play fantasy cycling: polka dot jersey, stage win, or both if their legs are working well.

"I feel good on the bike, so I hope I can show my strength on the climbs... It's a big difference from how I rode the Tour last year, I think. I think I can remain very confident." These words sound like a positive wake-up call for those who have backed her: Pieterse seems in better shape than in the past, and the upcoming mountain stages could provide surprises for those who have included her in their team.

Photo: Sprint Cycling Agency