Tadej Pogacar became world champion for the second year in a row on Sunday after a long solo. The 27-year-old rider rode the last 66 kilometers only in the heavy course in Rwanda. Remco Evenepoel grabbed silver.
Mathieu van der Poel, the world champion of 2023, skipped the World Cup in Rwanda because he found the course too heavy. Bauke Mollema and Thymen Arensman were the best Dutch in course, but the climbers could not play a significant role. Mollema became 21st, more than ten minutes from Pogacar. Arensman got off in the penultimate round.
After almost 6.5 hours of course, the Belgian Evenepoel crossed the line, at 1 minute and 28 seconds from Pogacar. The Irish Ben Healy (+2.18 minutes) conquered his first World Cup medal with bronze. The Dane Mattias Skjelmose (+2.53 minutes) grabbed the fourth place just next to a podium place. Only thirty riders reached the finish.
The Dominance of Pogacar in the World Cup road ride had many similarities with last year. Then the Slovenian in Zurich took the rainbow jersey after an early attack and a solo of 52 kilometers. On Sunday he drove even longer on his own.
Pogacar is the eighth man in the World Cup history who is tracing his world title. The leader of UAE Team Emirates already booked his seventeenth victory of 2025 in Rwanda. That makes him the most successful rider of this season. He was the best in the Tour de France, the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège.
Talent house in early flight
The riders had to travel 267.5 kilometers around the Rwandan capital Kigali with a total of 5,475 altimeters. With that, the first world championships in Africa had the second toughest World Cup course ever. In 1980 the men had to overcome 6,247 altimeters at the World Cup road ride in the French Alps.
Menno Huising was not put off by all the climbing. The talent of Visma-Lease a Bike came in early flight, which consisted of seven riders. The twenty-year-old World Cup debutant had to go with 124 kilometers to be released. The Dutch had started with only five riders because Sam Oomen had canceled with abdominal complaints.
Without Van der Poel, the team of national coach Koos Moerenhout had no contender for the gold. Evenepoel did belong to the favorites. The Belgian impressed a week ago by grabbing gold and catching up Pogacar at the World Time Trial World Cup, but on Sunday it was a different story. The world champion of 2022 could not go when Pogacar accelerated for the first time.
Again a very early attack from Pogacar
The Pogacar attack came more than 100 kilometers from the finish, just like last year at the World Cup in Zurich. The Slovenian accelerated on Mount Kigali (5.9 kilometers to 6.7 percent) and only the Spaniard Juan Ayuso and the Mexican Isaac del Toro – in daily life teammates of Pogacar at UAE Team Emirates – were able to follow.
Just afterwards, Del Toro made a great impression on the infamous wall of Kigali (400 meters to 11 percent). The Mexican released Ayuso, while Pogacar had to do his best to stay in the wheel. A large chasing group arose behind it, with Mollema and Arensman.
Del Toro got it more and more heavier on the climb. Pogacar waited once for his UAE team, but with 66 kilometers to go, the title defender started a solo again. His lead on the pelotonnetje was a minute.
Evenepoel was also that group, despite two bicycle changes in a short time. The Belgian found a second breath. He went on a hunt for Pogacar with Skjelmose and Healy. But the Tour de France winner shared his effort well, just like last year. He gave his lead over a minute and is a world champion for a year longer.
Evenepoel jumped 20 kilometers from the line at Healy and Skjelmose and finished second.
Tadej Pogacar Became World Champion for the Second Year in a row on Sunday after a long solo. The 27-year-old Rider Rode The Last 66 kilometers Alone in the Grueling Race in Rwanda. Remco Evenepoel Tok Silver.
Mathieu van der Poel, the 2023 World Champion, skipped the world championships in Rwanda because he thought the course was too tough. Bauke Mollema and Thymen Arensman Were the Best Dutch Riders in the Race, But The Climbers Could Not Play A Significant Role. Mollema finished 21st, more than for the minute behind Pogacar. Arensman dropped out in the Penultimate Lap.
The Belgian Evenepoel Crossed the Finish Line in Second Place After Almost 6.5 Hours of Racing, 1 minute and 28 Seconds Behind Pogacar. Irishman Ben Healy (+2.18 Minutes) won His First World Championship Medal with Bronze. Dane Mattias Skjelmose (+2.53 minutes) Just missed a stage place with fourth place. Only Thirty Riders Reached the Finish.
Pogacar’s Dominance in the World Championship Road Race had many similarities to last year. Then the Slovenian Tok The Rainbow Jersey in Zurich After An Early Attack and A 52-kilometer Solo. On Sunday he red equally longer on his own.
Pogacar is the Eighth Man in World Championship History to Retain His World Title. The Leader of Uae Team Emirates Has Already Recorded His Seventeenth Victory of 2025 in Rwanda. This makes him the most successful rider of this season. He was the best in the Tour de France, the Tour of Flanders and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Among Others.
Talent Huising in Early Flight
The Riders had to cover 267.5 kilometers around the Rwandan Capital Kigali with a Total of 5.475 meters of elevation. This meean that the first world championships in Africa had the Second Toughest World Championship Course Ever. In 1980, the men had 6,247 meters of altitude at the world championship road race in the French Alps.
Menno Huising was not Deterred by All the Climbing. The Visma-Lease a Bike Talent Came In The Early Flight, which consisted of Seven Riders. The Twenty-Year-Old World Championship Debutant had to drop out with 124 kilometers to go. The Dutch had started with only five riders, because sam oomen had withdrawn with abdominal complaints.
Without van der Poel, coach Koos Moerenhout’s team had no contender for gold. Evenepoel was one of the favorites. The Belgian Impressed A Week Ago by Taking Gold and Overtaking Pogacar at the World Time Trial Championships, but Sunday was a different story. The 2022 World Champion Couldn’t Keep Up When Pogacar Accelerated for the First Time.
Another Very Early Attack From Pogacar
Pogacar’s Attack Came More than 100 kilometers from the finish, Just Like Last Year at the World Championships in Zurich. The Slovenian Accelerated on Mount Kigali (5.9 kilometers at 6.7 percent) and only the Spaniard Juan Ayuso and the Mexican Isaac del Toro – in Daily Life Teammates of Pogacar at UAE Team Emirates – Could Follow.
Del Toro then Made a Big Impression on the Notorious Kigali Wall (400 meters at 11 percent). The Mexican Dropped Ayuso, While Pogacar had to do his best to stay in the Wheel. Behind Them, A Large Chasing Group Formed, With Mollema and Arensman.
Del Toro Found it Increasingly Difficult on the Climbs. Pogacar Waited Once for his Uae Teammate, but with 66 kilometers to go, The Title Defender Started a Solo Again. His lead over the peloton was a minute.
Evenepoel was also in that Group, Despite Two Bike Changes in a Short Time. The Belgian Found A Second Wind. Hey Went Hunting for Pogacar Together with skjelmose and Healy. But the Tour de France Winner Distributed His Efforts Well, Just Like Last Year. He Mintained His Lead of Approximately One Minute and Is World Champion for Another Year.
Evenepoel Broke away from Healy and Skjelmose with 20 kilometers to go and finished second.