Tadej Pogačar completed a spectacular double-double, winning back-to-back Tour de France victories and consecutive UCI Road World Championship titles.
The Slovenian superstar launched a long-range attack with just over 100 kilometres to go on the 267.5 km route to race home in a time of six hours, 21 minutes, and 20 seconds (6:21:20) in a carbon copy performance from a year ago.
Pogačar’s incredible performance highlighted his ability to deliver the goods no matter the conditions, location, or the quality of competitors. The brutal men’s elite course in the land of a thousand hills – which is also 1,000 metres higher than the Swiss circuit from last year’s edition – was no match for him.
The 27-year-old Pogačar ripped through the Rwandan capital, where the UCI Road World Championships were held for the first time on African soil. To highlight the brutality of the course, only 30 riders out of a field of 165 crossed the finish line.
When Pogačar launched his attack, Spain’s Juan Ayuso hung onto his wheel before the duo were joined in the front by Isaac Del Toro of Mexico.
Pogačar and Del Toro eventually dropped Ayuso, where they spent a few kilometres sharing in the pain on the course.
The Slovenian gave the Mexican a passing glance as he set off on his solo mission with 66 kilometres to where he stayed, without any drama en route to victory.
Behind him, Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel launched an audacious attack 20km from the finish, leaving the chasing pack in his shadow in a bid to reel in Pogačar.
Fresh off winning his third consecutive individual time trial title, Evenepoel would have fancied his chances of achieving the unthinkable.
The double Olympic champion caught Pogačar, who started two and a half minutes ahead, to claim the time trial title in style.
But there would be no catching Pogačar this time around as he went into the final lap with a minute and a half advantage over Evenepoel. As Pogačar reached the final rise, he started celebrating, holding his arms aloft as he crossed the finish in triumph.
Evenepoel had to settle for the silver medal in a time of 6:22:48, with Ireland’s Ben Healy rounding out the podium in 6:23:36.
“I was left quite early, I was solo like last year and just fighting with myself, but I am happy I made it,” Pogačar said.
“The energy and the resources were going down towards the end, and it was so hard over the few final laps. You doubt a bit, but you push through and hope for the best. It was an incredible experience altogether (in Kigali), and let’s say it was a successful week.”