Is there anything Dutch wonder woman Marianne Vos can’t do? Multiple world champion on the track, tarmac and off-road, Vos is simply the world’s greatest. But there are a queue of riders lining up to knock her down from the top step in her home country. During a difficult season, as a consequence of surgery in October, Vos saw America’s Katie Compton power beyond her on several occasions during the year.

However, Vos – who kicked off the winter with victory in Valkenberg – has returned to form at the perfect time after soloing to victory in Nommay and in the process securing a podium spot overall – incredible considering she missed two races.

Her victory on the road in Florence in September proved her steely determination to retain her rainbow stripes, and the outpouring of emotion as she won highlighted how much victory still means to her. So motivation for a sixth consecutive world title was never going to be a problem and particularly not in her home country.