Neben recorded the fastest time at the first check. She was briefly overtaken by 2013 World Champion Van Dijk, but made that time back up in the final stages.

The elite women raced over the same course as junior men and women, covering 28.9km of twisty, technical roads. This was a race for a rider with plenty of watts in the bank as well as expert handling skills.

Riders have been suffering with incredibly hot and humid conditions in Qatar – in the Team Time Trial Rabo Liv rider Anouska Koster crashed heavily and video footage shows she was incredibly disorientated when remounting her bike.

This said, the UCI have responded to complaints around a lack of provision for the 40 degree heat, laying on greater air conditioning at start/finish ramps and more ambulances.

The next event for the elite women is the road race – it’ll be one to favour the sprinters, and we chatted to Chloe Hosking about her hopes for the rainbow stripes here.