Speedway World Cup: Nicki Pedersen stars as Denmark pip Poland to strike gold in Bydgoszcz

Denmark snatched the FIM Speedway World Cup from Poland's grasp in Bydgoszcz thanks to some last-heat heroics from captain Niels-Kristian Iversen.

The hosts looked set to strike gold in front of a partisan crowd at the ZKS Polonia Stadium when Janusz Kolodziej was leading the way in the final heat of the night.

However Iversen powered past his rival on the last corner to inflict a first defeat on home soil for Poland since Australia won at Wroclaw 13 years ago.

The stunning finish meant the Danes finished with 38 points, one clear of their nearest rivals. Australia took bronze on 36, with Great Britain fourth on 16.

Insane

"That was just insane. I just kept trying for all four laps. I was building speed up and I knew I was getting closer and closer," the world no 3 told the tournament's official website.

That was just insane. I just kept trying for all four laps. I was building speed up and I knew I was getting closer and closer.

"I don't think Janusz knew where to go in the end. I saw him look back a few times and I was just trying all the different lines. It worked out perfectly. We'd never managed to win in Poland before. It was close but we managed to do it. It was absolutely fantastic."

While Iversen was the last-gasp hero for the Danes, Nicki Pedersen was their star performer with a personal haul of 17 points.

He crucially succeeded on a tactic ride in heat 10 after Poland - who saw Krzysztof Kasprzak and Jaroslaw Hampel both contribute 11 - had threatened to run away with the final in the early stages.

Tai Woffinden registered double figures for the British side, finishing with 12 points. However Chris Harris, with four, was the only other member of Alun Rossiter's side to contribute.