Keetie van Oosten-Hage had only just turned 19 at the 1968 road world championships in Imola. She saved her effort for a bunch sprint and took her first world title. It came two years after a silver medal at the previous championships, when she had been only 17.
Imola was no isolated success. Van Oosten-Hage won a second road world title in 1976 and four world titles in individual pursuit on the track. Her record connected two different abilities: racing tactically in a group and holding a high pace alone against the clock.
In Munich in 1978 she covered 43.082 kilometres in an hour, setting a new record. Those results came when women had far fewer international races and no Olympic road event. Her career is remarkable not only for its wins, but for the range of disciplines and limited opportunities within which she achieved them.