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6 days ago
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Tadej Pogacar lit up Kigali’s climbs with a trademark long-range attack to claim a second consecutive men’s road race world title on Sunday.
There was an air of inevitability surrounding the event in Rwanda as the Slovenian cemented his legacy among cycling’s all-time greats. Pogacar triumphed as the world championships were staged in Africa for the first time, with hundreds of thousands cheering from the roadside.
Remco Evenepoel, who won the individual time trial title for the third year in a row last Sunday, finished second, one minute and 28 seconds off the pace after suffering mechanical problems.
The Irish rider Ben Healy took third place, another 48 seconds further back. It was Ireland’s first podium finish in the event since Sean Kelly also claimed the bronze medal in 1989. Britain’s Tom Pidcock finished in 10th place, nine minutes and seven seconds behind the winning time.
Pogacar, whose grimace turned into a smile on the final lap, is only the second rider in the last two decades to successfully defend the rainbow jersey, following Slovakia’s Peter Sagan who won three in a row from 2015 to 2017.
“I was left alone quite early and going solo like last year and fighting myself, so I was happy I made it,” said Pogacar afterwards. “It was so hard in the few final laps ... first you doubt a bit, but you have to push through. It was an incredible experience and a successful week.”
When Pogacar surged on Mount Kigali with 104 km remaining, throwing caution to the wind, the script felt familiar. Only Juan Ayuso of Spain and Mexico’s Isaac Del Toro – both members of Pogacar’s UAE-XRG stable – could initially follow but Ayuso soon cracked and Del Toro was cast adrift 67km from the line, left to watch as Pogacar disappeared up the road for another memorable solo triumph.
The 267.5km race marked a historic staging of the championships in Rwanda’s hilly capital, with the punishing circuit, peppered with cobbles, producing relentless climbing. Evenepoel initially showed his frustration as he waited for a bike change after being distanced but soon regrouped to lead the chase.
The Belgian was part of a group that hovered around one minute behind the leader but never managed to close the gap, allowing Pogacar to cap a glittering 2025 season in style.
The 27-year-old claimed a fourth Tour de France crown in July, dominating rival Jonas Vingegaard, and added Spring Classics triumphs at Strade Bianche, the Tour of Flanders, La Fleche Wallonne and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
With two Monument titles already this year, Pogacar further cemented his versatility across one-day and stage races. Another Monument race awaits when he lines up at the Giro di Lombardia next month.
