Tadej Pogačar Defends Road World Championship Title In Solo Victory

KIGALI, RWANDA – SEPTEMBER 28: Gold medalist Tadej Pogacar and Team Slovenia celebrates winning during the medal ceremony after the 98th UCI Cycling World Championships Kigali 2025, Men Elite Road Race a 267.5km race from Kigali to Kigali on September 28, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo by Dario Belingheri/Getty Images)

Getty Images

Tadej Pogačar defended his men’s road race world championship title on Sunday, securing another year in the rainbow jersey. The win makes the 27-year-old Slovenian the first to complete the Tour de France and UCI Road World Championship double in back-to-back seasons.

Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel claimed silver after winning his third-straight time trial world title at the start of these World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda. Ireland’s Ben Healy won bronze, becoming the first Irishman to win a medal in the men’s World Championship Road race since Sean Kelly took bronze in 1989.

As he did to win his first world title last year in Zurich, Switzerland, Pogačar launched a long-range attack to secure the title. Last year, he attacked with 100 kilometers to go and won by 34 seconds. On Sunday in Kigali, Pogačar launched with 104 kilometers to go on the 267.5-kilometer route and won by one minute and 28 seconds.

His UAE Team Emirates teammates, Spain’s Juan Ayuso and Mexico’s Isaac del Toro were able to follow Pogačar’s initial move. But first Ayuso, then del Toro could not hold pace with Pogačar and the four-time Tour de France winner went solo at 65 kilometers to go.

“I was hoping that a small group would form like we did with Juan [Ayuso] and del Toro—perfect combo,” said Pogačar after the race. “[Ayuso] had a problem quite soon on the cobbles and del Toro had some stomach problems I think…I was left alone quite early. I was solo like last year, fighting with myself. I’m so happy I made it.”

Pogačar began his celebration in the final meters of the race. He finished in six hours, 21 minutes, and 20 seconds, the first of only 30 riders to finish after 165 began the difficult course.

“The energy and the resources were going down towards the end, and it was so hard over the final few laps. You doubt a bit, but you push through and hope for the best. It was an incredible experience altogether, and let’s say it was a successful week.”

Evenepoel Collects Silver After Tough Day Out

One minute and 28 seconds after Pogačar crossed the finish line with his hands in the air, Evenepoel rode in for silver. But instead of triumph, Evenepoel was left wondering what could have been after his race was marred by technical difficulties.

Evenepoel began the day hoping to follow up his double road race and time trial gold medals from the 2024 Olympics with a pair of world titles in Kigali. He was halfway to accomplishing this goal after winning the men’s time trial world title last week—where he caught Pogačar after the Slovenian had a two minute and 30 second head start—and was looking for his second career road race title after winning in 2022.

“Just before Mount Kigali my saddle dropped completely. I took a hole in the road,” Evenepoel said after the race when asked to explain what prompted his two bike changes. “As the climb was going on I was cramping in the back of my legs and my position was completely different,” which contributed to Evenepoel not being able to stay in Pogačar’s wheel when he attacked the peloton.

But Evenepoel had even more technical problems after he was unable to follow the most important move of the day. His second bike was still giving him problems, prompting him to change bikes yet again with about 75 kilometers remaining. This bike change was not in the feed zone, meaning an increasingly frustrated Evenepoel had to wait for his team car. Since there are no race radios in the World Championship Road race, he could not even tell the mechanics he had a problem.

Despite the long bike change, Evenepoel refused to give up. He did much of the work in his chase group, which included Tom Pidcock, Jai Hindley, and Mattias Skjelmose. He successfully bridged his group to Healy, Pavel Sivakov, and Mikkel Honoré, the second group on the road behind Pogačar and del Toro.

Evenepoel continued to press the pace and eventually, it was him, Healy, Pidcock, Hindley, and Skjelmose as the first chase group behind the leading Pogačar. Healy and Skjelmose were able to keep up with the Belgian powerhouse the longest but at about 20 kilometers to go, Evenepoel finally shook them off, leaving the two to fight for the final spot on the podium.

“I was here to take the double,” Evenepoel said. “I was feeling great but today, destiny gave me a different result.”

Healy Continues Excellent Season With Bronze Medal

Healy made his bid for the podium just over five kilometers from the finish line. He attacked Skjelmose, getting a gap on the Dane that he grew to 37 seconds at the finish line. Healy lifted his arm in celebration as he pedaled over the line in third, adding another accolade to the best season of his career.

“This season is getting crazier and crazier, it’s pretty special,” the 25-year-old said to The Irish Times. “I’ve done a lot of hard work, but to stand on a podium with Remco [Evenepoel] and Tadej [Pogačar] is pretty special.”

Healy hunches on his bike, leaning slightly as he punches unrelentingly on the pedals. His ability to maintain his own pace and wear down his competitors pushed him to his first Tour de France stage win this summer.

But that was just the beginning for Healy, who led the race for two stages, making him the first Irishman to wear the iconic yellow jersey since Steven Roche in 1987. Even after surrendering yellow, he continued to make waves, placing second on a summit finish at the top of Mont Ventoux and winning the race’s overall combativity prize.

This is his second podium finish at a one-day race this season. In April, he finished third in the Monument race Liège-Bastogne- Liège, before adding top five finishes at Strade Bianche and La Flèche Wallone.

Already a Grand Tour stage winner after winning a stage of the 2023 Giro d’Italia, Healy continued to show flashes of his potential last season, taking seventh in the 2024 World Championship Road race and tenth at the 2024 Olympic Road race. But he’s unlocked a new level this season and his bronze medal in Kigali behind on-form Pogačar and Evenepoel hints at more to come next year.