‘I hope to win the yellow jersey in the future’ – Puck Pieterse dreams big ahead of the Tour

"I hope to win the yellow jersey in the future," says Pieterse, speaking in the 'eyes on them series' by Le Tour Femmes, who spent most of last year's race in second position in the overall standings after her victory on stage 4 in Liège all the way up until stage 8, the final stage.

The expanded spring programme, competing in the majority of the spring classics, for Pieterse has helped build both a top physical condition and gain greater tactical awareness, according to herself, who comes from an excellent cyclo-cross background.

"I'm used to racing every weekend from cyclo-cross. It was not really difficult to get focused before every race," explains Pieterse. "I have a feeling that you only come out stronger because these races are so good trainings as well. You train your endurance, you train your sprints, you train everything."

With more race days comes increased race intelligence, a crucial factor in Grand Tour success, especially as the Tour de France Femmes becomes a 9-day stage race instead of an 8-day race.

"The more you race, the more race situations you get to know, and the easier you can maybe read how a race is unfolding," Pieterse adds.

When asked directly if she feels stronger after her spring campaign, where she picked up a victory at La Flèche Wallonne Féminine along with a few classics podiums, the answer is unequivocal: "I think so, yes!"

Despite her growing strength, the team role for the 2025 Tour de France Femmes remains undefined, with the focus likely to be on stage victories rather than general classification.

"We have not really had a chat about it with the team, actually, so I don't know exactly what my role will be. Last year proved that I can win a stage. I think for this year, it will be mainly stage-focused as well."

Pieterse plans to also avoid tactical time losses that might enable breakaway opportunities in the subsequent stages that follow.

"I won't try to actively lose time to get in a break the next day or something. I'll just keep riding, I think, with the GC contender to see where I end up. But I don't think GC is a goal for this year [2025] already."

Pieterse will also be supporting her compatriot, Pauliena Rooijakkers, who finished third in last year's battle for the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes.

"It would just be super cool to maybe be able to follow longer on the climbing stages and help her [Rooijakkers] towards maybe another podium or even better," Pieterse says.

While in 2025 Pieterse may focus on building towards future general classification ambitions, the ultimate goal remains clear.

"We have to see this year how the preparation on the longer climbs will work out in the race, and afterwards decide if a GC would be an option. But of course, now, after how last year went, I hope to win the yellow jersey in the future."