In 2004, Marianne Vos won the junior road world championship in Verona. She broke away in the final of five laps and she stayed clear. I sat at home, watching the race at the television. I knew at that time that we would see her again. But I could never imagine how successful she would be.

Since starting to ride in the elite ranks, Marianne Vos has finished no lower than second place in the UCI road race world championships. She now has three elite road race rainbow jerseys to go with her five silver medals.

Yesterday, she took her third gold medal.

Vos had just one teammate in the leading group, Anna van der Breggen. But sometimes it does not take more to claim victory. Van der Breggen marked the multiple attacks by the three Italians Tatiana Guderzo, Rosella Ratto and Elisa Longo Borghini. And Vos could just sit down and wait for her attack on a short, steep ascent with 5km to go.

"She was so good," Vos said of van der Breggen. "She did a great job to keep it together to give me an opportunity to attack on the last climb.

"Last year she did the same great job. She was the one we wanted to have in the final. Of course she can be good, but still - when we were there with two [of us] and three Italians and you have to react."

Vos took her 11th career elite world title. In addition to her three elite road race wins, she has six consecutive rainbow jerseys from cyclo-cross, and two on the track - one in the points race, one in the scratch race, plus two Olympic medals. She took victory at the road race in London and a points race gold from Beijing. I hope to see her race for many years to come. She is absolutely fantastic.