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Maertens won his second World Championship in 1981, becoming the first rider to win the event in three consecutive years. He achieved this feat by outsprinting the peloton in a bunch finish, demonstrating his exceptional finishing speed and tactical prowess. Maertens' triumph cemented his status as one of the leading sprinters of his generation and showcased his dominance in the sport during the late 1970s and early 1980s.