Pogacar Defends World Title with Stunning Solo Win in Rwanda

Sep 29, 2025 - 08:04

Tadej Pogacar claimed back-to-back UCI World Championship road race victories with a dominant solo ride in Kigali, finishing over a minute ahead of Remco Evenepoel as Ireland’s Ben Healy secured third.

The 27-year-old Slovenian, a four-time Tour de France winner, attacked with 70 kilometres remaining on the 267.5km course and held his rivals at bay, crossing the line one minute 28 seconds ahead of Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel. Ireland’s Ben Healy completed the podium, taking third place after a superb season that also included a Tour de France stage win.

Britain’s Tom Pidcock, part of a four-man chase group, eventually ran out of energy and finished 10th, more than nine minutes down. “Absolutely brutal,” Pidcock admitted afterwards, reflecting on the intensity of the hilly, cobbled circuit which featured more than 5,000 metres of climbing.

Despite signs of fatigue in last week’s time trial, Pogacar showed no weakness this time, powering clear after teammates Juan Ayuso and Isaac del Toro were dropped, and stretching his lead with relentless climbing. His decisive surge on the Cote du Kimihurura left Evenepoel, Healy, Pidcock, and Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose unable to close the gap.

The victory extends Pogacar’s remarkable season to eight wins from 13 races, reinforcing his status as the sport’s most dominant rider. “It was so hard in the final laps, but I had to push through. It was an incredible experience,” Pogacar said.

For Healy, 25, the bronze medal marks Ireland’s first men’s road race podium since Sean Kelly in 1989. Meanwhile, Evenepoel’s second place came despite repeated bike issues that left him visibly frustrated during the race.

The men’s event capped a historic week in Rwanda, the first African nation to host the World Championships, with thousands lining Kigali’s streets to witness Pogacar’s triumph. In the women’s race, Canada’s Magdeleine Vallieres secured a surprise victory ahead of New Zealand’s Niamh Fisher-Black and Spain’s Mavi Garcia.

Men’s Elite Top 3:

1. Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia) – 6h 21m 20s

2. Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) – +1m 28s

3. Ben Healy (Ireland) – +2m 16s

The Kigali World Championships concluded an eight-day festival of cycling that brought together elite riders from across the globe for road races, time trials, and junior categories, showcasing Rwanda’s growing reputation as a hub for the sport in Africa.

Tags:

ABAYO Bonheur ABAYO Bonheur is a professional sports journalist with extensive experience across multiple radio stations and digital platforms. He holds a degree in Journalism and Communication from the University of Rwanda, where he honed his skills in reporting, storytelling mainly documentaries. Throughout his career, Bonheur has gained both tangible experiences in live broadcasting and reporting, as well as the ability to maintain anonymity when covering sensitive stories. His versatility allows him to produce insightful, accurate, and engaging content across a variety of sports, earning him recognition for professionalism and reliability in the field.