Slovenian cycling superstar wins second straight world title
A one-of-an-era cycling phenom, Tadej Pogačar has defended the rainbow jersey of the men's road race world champion. The Slovenian, who recently turned 27, is the first ever to win the Tour de France and the world title in a single season two years in a row.
A week ago, Pogačar missed out on a world time-trial medal by a whisker after being caught by Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, who dominated the event to claim his third consecutive world title in TT, CE Report quotes The Slovenia Times.
Speculation emerged questioning whether the Slovenian would be able to defend his rainbow jersey in the road race, a year-long privilege to wear in every race and the most prestigious honour in the world of cycling alongside the Tour de France title.
But all of that was put to rest on 28 September as Pogačar outclassed his opponents in another show of strength that demolished other teams' books of tactics.
In the first half of the 267.5km road race in Kigali, Rwanda, he and his teammates, who did a lot of pacing, were close to the front the whole time. Everybody knew Pogačar's attack was inevitable and 104 kilometres to go, on the extremely challenging Mont Kigali, he did step up and leave most of the peloton behind in what was somewhat reminiscent of his long-range attack last year.
His UAE Emirates XRG teammates, Spanish rider Juan Ayuso and Isaac del Toro of Mexico were able to keep up with him for a while but they both gave up eventually. Ayuso, who will ride for Lidl-Trek next season, cracked first and 66 kilometres from the finish line del Toro was dropped as well.
Pogačar then did another one of his trademark solo long-distance rides. He crossed the finish line with one minute and 28 seconds before Evenepoel, who won silver. Ireland's Ben Healy took bronze another 48 seconds further back.
The rest of Team Slovenia riders abandoned the race at one point or another after doing what they could to contribute to Pogačar's victory, except for Primož Roglič, who managed to finish 11th.
Of a total of 165 riders only 30 finished the race, which is the smallest number in the history of the world championships and another proof of how daunting the route was. The worlds in Rwanda mark the first time the event was held in Africa in its 104-year history, with huge crowds cheering from the roadside.
Pogačar is the eighth road race world champion to have defended the title.
"It was an incredible experience altogether [in Kigali]. Let's say it was a successful week," he told the organisers in his first statement after the road race.
"I'm almost speechless. What an experience. I'm already looking forward to next year, I mean, next week when I'll be racing with the national team again and next year," he later told TV Slovenija, referring to the UEC Road European Championships next week and the 2026 UCI Road World Championships.
Only six riders have won the Tour de France and the world title in the same season so far, and Pogačar and Belgian cycling legend Eddy Merckx are the only ones who have done it twice in their careers. However, the Slovenian is now the first ever to win the Tour and the worlds in a single season back-to-back.
"I'll enjoy it [racing] as long as I can," he told the public broadcaster, adding that perhaps some cycling fans now find the races boring as he keeps on winning. But he is not concerned because he knows that his achievements help promote Slovenian cycling.
Pogačar's latest victory marks the fourth time Slovenia have won a road race medal at the UCI Road World Championships and the third time he has. He won his first rainbow jersey last year, and finished third in 2023. Andrej Hauptman, who now serves as sports director for UAE Team Emirates, won bronze in 2001. Team Slovenia have another world medal in the individual time trial as Roglič took silver in this event in 2017.
Pogačar claimed a fourth Tour de France title in July and bagged additional wins at several spring classics this season. He will take on another prestigious one-day race as he lines up at the Giro di Lombardia next month.
