"I didn’t think a 35k solo was on the cards" – British teen Harry Hudson arrives on the world stage with stunning junior road race victory in Kigali

Great Britain added another rainbow jersey to its growing collection at the 2025 World Championships in Kigali on Friday afternoon, as 18-year-old Harry Hudson, who is set to ride for Lidl-Trek in the coming years, delivered a sensational lone victory in the junior men’s road race.

The 119-kilometre contest produced all the drama and unpredictability expected of a junior championship, but it was Hudson’s bold decision to strike from distance that defined the outcome. With 36 kilometres remaining, the lightweight climber accelerated clear of the favourites and – despite repeated counter-attacks behind – never saw his advantage disappear.

“I didn’t think a 35k solo was on the cards,” Hudson admitted afterwards. “Junior racing is always a bit crazy, so anything can happen, but I thought it would be a smaller bunch into the final climb. I felt like it was the right point to attack, maybe split the group, but suddenly I was alone. From there I just settled into my pace. I thought I was going to get caught a few times, but I kept pushing and somehow I made it to the line.”

Hudson, who describes himself as “a climber” who thrives on attritional efforts, displayed a maturity far beyond his years in pacing the finale. Spanish hope Benjamín Noval Jr. and France’s Johan Blanc looked best placed to close him down on the penultimate climb, but Noval crashed heavily on a straight section of road while looking over his shoulder for assistance. Blanc pressed on, but with only ten seconds between them on the final climb, Hudson lifted the pace again and secured the biggest win of his young career.

“Yeah, I could see them a few times and that was scary,” Hudson said of the chasers. “But I always felt I had a bit left for the final climb if they caught me. I’m small and light, so the hills suit me, and the longer the race goes, the better for me. This was definitely my kind of day.”

For Noval, the son of former Astana and Discovery Channel domestique Benjamín Noval, the race was shaping into a career-defining performance until disaster struck. The teen sensation, already signed to join INEOS Grenadiers in 2027, had been riding with the strength that made him one of the pre-race favourites.

“Coming into the final I looked back to ask my teammate for a turn, and suddenly I drifted left, hit the barriers and crashed,” Noval explained afterwards to the Spanish federation. “I had really good sensations, especially towards the end before the crash. Now I just need to recover quickly and wait for the hospital results.”

Initial reports suggest a possible arm injury, though further scans are required to rule out a fracture. It was a bitter blow for Spanish cycling, which had hoped to celebrate a podium after Noval’s stellar season.

Hudson’s triumph comes just days after Zoe Backstedt claimed the under-23 time trial world title, further underlining the depth of Great Britain’s development pipeline. The teenager’s poise, endurance and tactical acumen in Kigali mark him as one to watch as he graduates through the ranks.

The rainbow jersey was presented by none other than Mark Cavendish, a moment that capped off Hudson’s unforgettable day. “Yeah, I saw Cav, which was a bit of a surprise,” Hudson smiled. “This is definitely a day I’ll never forget. We’ll celebrate tonight.”

With a world title now on his palmarès, and a racing style built for big climbs and long efforts, Hudson has announced himself on the world stage in emphatic fashion – the latest British talent to emerge from cycling’s most relentless production line.