{"id":119007,"date":"2026-04-25T19:08:24","date_gmt":"2026-04-25T19:08:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/25\/friendly-rivalry-fierce-competition-demi-vollering-puck-pieterse-anticipate-another-thrilling-face-off-at-liege-bastogne-liege\/"},"modified":"2026-04-25T19:08:24","modified_gmt":"2026-04-25T19:08:24","slug":"friendly-rivalry-fierce-competition-demi-vollering-puck-pieterse-anticipate-another-thrilling-face-off-at-liege-bastogne-liege","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/04\/25\/friendly-rivalry-fierce-competition-demi-vollering-puck-pieterse-anticipate-another-thrilling-face-off-at-liege-bastogne-liege\/","title":{"rendered":"Friendly rivalry, fierce competition &#8211; Demi Vollering, Puck Pieterse anticipate another thrilling face-off at Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-f7a698f3-67dc-40a9-a391-95ed2182b0c2\"><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/demi-vollering\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/demi-vollering\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/demi-vollering\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Demi Vollering<\/a> (FDJ United-SUEZ) and <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/puck-pieterse\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/puck-pieterse\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/riders\/puck-pieterse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Puck Pieterse<\/a> (Fenix-Premier Tech) are anticipating another fierce yet &#8216;playful&#8217; competition in Li\u00e8ge on Sunday, with both powerhouses expressing the <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/category\/womens-cycling\/the-spring-classics-end-with-a-bang-in-wallonia-analysing-the-contenders-at-liege-bastogne-liege-femmes\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/category\/womens-cycling\/the-spring-classics-end-with-a-bang-in-wallonia-analysing-the-contenders-at-liege-bastogne-liege-femmes\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/category\/womens-cycling\/the-spring-classics-end-with-a-bang-in-wallonia-analysing-the-contenders-at-liege-bastogne-liege-femmes\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">level of respect they have for one another as competitors<\/a> on the Women&#8217;s WorldTour.<\/p>\n<p>They are among the favourites who will line up to contest for the victory at Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge, Vollering having secured two wins and six podiums in the last seven editions, while <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/it-hurts-a-lot-defending-champion-kim-le-court-pienaar-forced-to-watch-career-defining-liege-bastogne-liege-from-the-sidelines\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/it-hurts-a-lot-defending-champion-kim-le-court-pienaar-forced-to-watch-career-defining-liege-bastogne-liege-from-the-sidelines\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/it-hurts-a-lot-defending-champion-kim-le-court-pienaar-forced-to-watch-career-defining-liege-bastogne-liege-from-the-sidelines\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pieterse finished a close second place to Kim Le Court-Pienaar last year<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"elk-seasonal\"\/><\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-f7a698f3-67dc-40a9-a391-95ed2182b0c2-2\">They arrive off the back of Fl\u00e8che Wallonne on Wednesday, where <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/la-fleche-wallonne-femmes-demi-vollering-delivers-victory-with-mur-de-huy-acceleration-and-holds-off-surging-puck-pieterse\/\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/la-fleche-wallonne-femmes-demi-vollering-delivers-victory-with-mur-de-huy-acceleration-and-holds-off-surging-puck-pieterse\/\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/la-fleche-wallonne-femmes-demi-vollering-delivers-victory-with-mur-de-huy-acceleration-and-holds-off-surging-puck-pieterse\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Vollering took the win ahead of Pieterse on the Mur de Huy<\/a>. And no one could forget that Pieterse took her first professional victory in a face-off against Vollering on stage 4 of the Tour de France Femmes in Li\u00e8ge in 2024.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"article-continues-below block py-2 text-sm\">Article continues below <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"inline-block w-2.5 h-2.5 ml-2\" fill=\"currentColor\" preserveaspectratio=\"xMidYMid meet\" viewbox=\"0 0 1000 1000\"><path d=\"M1000 100L500 900 0 100h1000z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold&#10;        \"><br \/>\n            You may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;It&#8217;s important to have respect for your rivals, so to say, they are also your colleagues because what they do and how many races they win is impressive,&#8221; Pieterse said of Vollering on the eve of Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge in an interview with <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=F9Rq6ZSJP5k\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=F9Rq6ZSJP5k\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>CyclingProNet<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Likewise, Vollering told <a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OYmbZ8grnT8\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OYmbZ8grnT8\" referrerpolicy=\"no-referrer-when-downgrade\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" rel=\"noopener\"><em>CyclingProNet<\/em> <\/a>that she enjoys Pieterse&#8217;s style of racing, &#8220;I really like Puck. We are competitors, but off the bike and even during the race, we joke with each other. We have the same kind of humour,&#8221; Vollering said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\">&#8220;During the race can still be playing around a bit. It is always good to fight together with her for the win because you feel that she is doing it in such a playful way, so I really enjoy her way of racing.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>There will be ample competition lining up to win the tenth edition of the women&#8217;s Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge with the likes of Pauline Ferrand-Pr\u00e9vot (Visma-Lease a Bike), Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (Canyon-Sram zondacrypto), Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime), Paula Blasi (UAE Team ADQ) and World Champion Magdeleine Vallieres (EF Education-Oatly).<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-ZbF2dQo5HZV5xZwos3C8SF\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-ZbF2dQo5HZV5xZwos3C8SF slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>This spring, Vollering has won the overall title at Setmana Valenciana and one-day races Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, Tour of Flanders and Fl\u00e8che Wallonne, while also finishing second at Dwars door Vlaanderen and third at Amstel Gold Race.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt was a really successful spring campaign for the whole team, so I\u2019m looking to finish it off in style,&#8221; said Vollering, who hopes to end her Classics season with another win in Li\u00e8ge.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I always love this race a lot. I\u2019m looking forward to doing the Redoute and the Roche-aux-Faucons, I\u2019m sure I\u2019m going to really enjoy it again.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>As for Pieterse, she is happy to be back racing in Li\u00e8ge but anticipates another challenging race, made even more difficult by the weather conditions.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think it will be a hard race overall, with headwinds as well, which will make it harder. And on the climbs, the pacing will probably be quite hard to make everybody feel tired.\u201d<\/p>\n<p id=\"elk-a1f4a601-fbf4-490e-b9fa-2f3e440d0508\"><em><strong>Get unlimited access to our unrivalled 2026 Spring Classics coverage with a Cyclingnews subscription. We&#8217;ll bring you breaking news, reports, and analysis from some of the biggest races on the calendar, including Amstel Gold Race, <\/strong><\/em><strong>La Fl\u00e8che Wallonne, and Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge<\/strong><em><strong>. <\/strong><\/em><a data-analytics-id=\"inline-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/sub24\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=SC26\" target=\"_blank\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/sub24\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=SC26\" data-hl-processed=\"none\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"inline-link\" data-before-rewrite-localise=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/sub24\/?utm_source=Referral+link&amp;utm_medium=Website&amp;utm_campaign=SC26\" rel=\"noopener\"><u><em><strong>Find out more.<\/strong><\/em><\/u><\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cyclingnews.com\/pro-cycling\/womens-cycling\/friendly-rivalry-fierce-competition-demi-vollering-puck-pieterse-anticipate-another-thrilling-face-off-at-liege-bastogne-liege\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Demi Vollering (FDJ United-SUEZ) and Puck Pieterse (Fenix-Premier Tech) are anticipating another fierce yet &#8216;playful&#8217; competition in Li\u00e8ge on Sunday, with both powerhouses expressing the level of respect they have for one another as competitors on the Women&#8217;s WorldTour. They are among the favourites who will line up to contest for the victory at Li\u00e8ge-Bastogne-Li\u00e8ge, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":119008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[4],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119007"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=119007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/119007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/119008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=119007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=119007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/basketball.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=119007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}