Who is Amalie Dideriksen?

The youngest world champion since Marianne Vos, Denmark’s new title holder may just be the best rider you’ve never heard of

- Owen Rogers

As the 2016 women’s World Championship road race entered its final kilometres the Danish TV commentators were losing heart. Desperately searching for their hope Amalie Dideriksen, only her two team-mates could be seen, both nestling near the back of the peloton.

In the final kilometre they spotted her. Safe near the front throughout the race, 20-year-old Dideriksen was giving a lesson in positioning, surfing the wheels of the Dutch team, whose leader Kirsten Wild was the red hot favourite. Only in the final metres did she put her nose in the wind, almost nonchalantly passing her rival to cross the line first.

Calm and unflustered, Dideriksen talks like she sprints. When she listens, her clear blue eyes engage confidently; when she speaks, there is no evidence of ego.