Tadej Pogacar completed a spectacular Double-Double, won back-to-back tour de France victories and successive UCI Road World Championship titles.
The Slovenian superstar launched a long-distance attack with just over 100 kilometers 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 carboncopy version from a year ago.
The incredible performance of Pogačar emphasized his ability to deliver the goods, regardless of the circumstances, location or quality of competitors. The brutal elite course for men in the land of a thousand hills – which is also 1,000 meters higher than the Swiss circuit of last year’s edition – was not a party for him.
The 27-year-old Pogačar tore through the Rwandan capital, where the UCI Road world championships were first held on African soil. To emphasize the brutality of the course, only 30 riders from a field of 165 exceeded the finish line.
When Pogačar launched his attack, Spain Juan Ayuso hung on his wheel before the duo at the front was accompanied by Isaac del Toro from Mexico.
Pogačar and Del Toro eventually dropped Ayuso, where they spent a few kilometers sharing the pain on the track.
The Slovenian ran the Mexican a transient look while he left on his solo mission with 66 kilometers to where he stayed, without a drama en route To the victory.
Behind him, the Remco Emtepoel of Belgium launched a daring attack 20 km from the finish, leaving the chase package in his shadow in an attempt to falter in Pogačar.
Fresh from winning his third consecutive individual title Time Trial, Empoel would have abandoned its chances to reach 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 this time there would be no catch of Pogačar when he entered the last round with a minute and a half of the advantage over Empepoel. When Pogačar reached the last turnout, he started to celebrate while held his arms up while putting the finish in Triumph.
Empelel had to settle for the silver medal in a time of 6:22:48, with that of Ireland Ben Healy Completion of the stage in 6:23:36.
“I was left quite early, I was solo like last year and just fight with myself, but I’m glad I made it,” said Pogačar.
“The energy and the means fell towards the end, and it was so difficult about the few last laps. You doubt a bit, but you push through and hope best. It was an incredible experience completely (in Kigali), and let’s say it was a successful week.”
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