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After two much-discussed disqualifications last year due to mistakes by Beune, a world title for women in the team pursuit now followed. Beune, Schouten and Groenewoud defeated the women from Canada and Japan by a wide margin.

In the middle ground, Schouten, Groenewoud and Beune fell into each other’s arms. And then Beune’s fists went up in the air. Skipping, she rejoined the rest. Of course, after the world title, a lot was lost on her.

This time there was nothing to criticize about the race. The female trio rode like a well-oiled machine to 2.51.20. Not even that far from the world record (2.50.76). And afterwards it was not about rules that had not been met. A well-deserved world title, instead of a long aftermath full of recriminations and tears for Beune.

My thoughts automatically went back to a year ago in Heerenveen, when the same trio was by far the fastest at the World Championship distances. Then the deception followed. Disqualification due to a visible ankle from Beune. That rule was considered absurd, but the verdict was harsh.

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This year she made the mistake again. At the World Cup in Poland she had neatly covered her ankle, but it turned out she had forgotten her transponder. Beune was criticized and was tackled very harshly online by keyboard knights. Schouten and Groenewoud were disappointed, but also stood up for Beune.

“We just joke about it now,” Beune said after the world title. And Schouten: “After last year’s World Cup, we knew this was the right train.” After the European title in Thialf last month and now the world title in Calgary, it is definitive: this is a good team.

The Netherlands failed to play a significant role among the men. Marcel Bosker, Beau Snellink and Chris Huizinga set a time of 3:40.50. Italy took the world title, followed by Norway and Canada. World record holder America disappointed with fourth place.