Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar secured his second consecutive world road‑race title on Sunday, 28 September, by winning the 267.5‑kilometre event in Kigali, Rwanda. He completed the course in six hours, 21 minutes and 20 seconds, successfully defending the title he claimed last year in Zurich. The race, part of a week‑long global cycling series and hosted in Africa for the first time, saw Pogačar make history as the first rider to win both the Tour de France and the world road‑race title in back‑to‑back years, cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s all‑time greats.
In an interview, Pogačar described competing in Kigali as “good,” despite the challenges he faced during the time trial earlier in the week. He praised his team’s effort, noting they enjoyed “some beautiful rides and a good time” together. He called the race itself “beautiful” and “super hard.” Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, who had beaten Pogačar in the time trial on 21 September, finished second, one minute and 26 seconds behind the winner. Ireland’s Ben Healey took third place, edging out Denmark’s Mattias Skjelmose in the final stages. Healey credited Evenepoel’s strong pulling, saying the Belgian was “pulling harder than most of us” in the group.
Out of the 165 riders who started, only 31 managed to finish the demanding 267.5‑kilometre route, reflecting the harsh conditions and intense competition that led to a high dropout rate. Pogačar’s victory marks a significant milestone in his career and underscores his dominance in professional cycling. The win also highlights the sport’s expanding global reach, with the world road‑race title being hosted in Africa for the first time. As the cycling world looks ahead, Pogačar’s achievement will be remembered as a key moment in the sport’s ongoing development and growth.
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