Kigali — Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar won an epic men’s road race at the Cycling World Championships on Sunday, successfully defending his 2024 title. The 267 kilometer slog over the hills around Kigali saw the 27-year-old launch a decisive, solo attack from 66 kilometers out, crossing the finish line 1 minute 28 seconds ahead of his nearest rival, the Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel of Belgium. Ireland’s 2025 breakout star Ben Healy took the bronze medal, finishing 2 minutes 16 seconds behind Pogacar over the 1500 meter altitude course.
Evenepoel’s Mechanical Misfortune and Pogacar’s Redemption
Pogacar’s victory was a sharp redemption after his time-trial humiliation a week earlier, where Evenepoel—who started 2 minutes 30 seconds behind him—caught and passed him. In the road race, Evenepoel suffered a mid-race mechanical issue and displayed “frayed nerves,” losing valuable time while angrily waiting for his team car instead of taking a reserve bike. While the Belgian managed to catch the chase group, he was never able to chip away at the constant 1 minute 20 second lead held by Pogacar, who had initially broken away with his Team UAE teammates.
Course Details and Notable Performances
The gruelling 267 kilometer race, the first ever on African soil, was made up of 15 loops around the city and featured 33 climbs. The final day drew an estimated crowd of around one million spectators. Young talents also impressed, with 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas finishing 13th, and Briton Tom Pidcock finishing 10th. Pogacar’s win earns him the highly coveted Rainbow Jersey, which he will wear for the next year.
Discussion about this post