The course in Huijbergen was tricky. Snow and ice had made the surface unpredictable, though the temperature began to rise on Sunday. Other riders, such as Lucinda Brand, also struggled with the conditions. Still, Pieterse did not want to just blame the weather. “The grip had perhaps changed a bit, but that was already the case during my recon on Saturday. It is thawing a little,” she noted.
The main issue now are the physical consequences. Pieterse finished the race, something remarkable considering she was in pain. “I still have to assess the damage. In the race you ride on adrenaline, but I didn’t fall well. At least, that is what I think,” Pieterse said cautiously. “I was lucky that I didn’t fly into the fences or fall on my shoulder, but flat on my back. I felt immediately that it was not quite right.”
With the World Cup in Benidorm coming up next weekend, her participation will depend on the medical assessment. “It is a matter of waiting. I will have it checked and hopefully I won’t have any lasting trouble from it.”