The streets of Kigali erupted as Tadej Pogačar delivered a masterclass to defend his rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships. With 66 kilometers still to ride, the Slovenian lit up the race and never looked back, ensuring UAE Team Emirates-XRG keeps cycling’s most iconic symbol of supremacy for another year.
The Rwandan capital provided a spectacular stage — steep climbs, bone-rattling cobbles, and thousands of fans lining every stretch of road. It was here that Pogačar, alongside teammates Isaac del Toro and Juan Ayuso, dismantled the field on Kigali’s defining climb. One by one, his rivals cracked, until only Del Toro remained, and then even he was prised off Pogačar’s relentless wheel.
Behind, the drama was equally fierce. Remco Evenepoel, hampered by a poorly timed bike change, seemed out of contention. But the Belgian refused to surrender, clawing back group after group with a trademark time trial effort. In the final 20 kilometers, he surged clear to secure a silver medal — a ride defined by grit, frustration, and brilliance.
Ireland’s Ben Healy, cool and consistent, capped his breakout year with a bronze medal, while the day belonged to Pogačar: two years in a row, untouchable in the rainbow jersey.
Men’s Elite Road Race (267.5km, Kigali to Kigali):
- Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) – 6:21:20
- Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) +1:28
- Ben Healy (Ireland) +2:16
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