"It was a fight with myself, but I made it" - Tadej Pogacar does the unthinkable in Kigali to claim second successive World Championship title

Tadej Pogacar celebrated a second World Championship road race title on Sunday, conquering the punishing Kigali course with a decisive long-range solo. The Slovenian launched his attack on Mont Kigali, initially joined by Juan Ayuso and Isaac del Toro, before committing to a solo bid that would last more than 60 kilometres.

“It was a continuous battle with myself,” Pogacar admitted after the finish. “I think this course was almost made for this kind of solo. What I had hoped for was a small group after Mont Kigali that I could ride with, and that initially happened with Juan and Isaac. That was really challenging.”

The attack unfolded early but decisively. As the peloton approached the Mont Kigali ascent, Belgium and Slovenia led the chase, keeping a high tempo that shed dozens of riders early on. The initial breakaway splintered, leaving Julien Bernard alone at the front for a short period before Pogacar made his move. Evenepoel, chasing behind, struggled with both the pace and a series of mechanical setbacks that would later rob him of precious seconds.

Pogacar’s companions could not hold the pace for long. “At one point Juan started to struggle and Isaac was dealing with stomach problems. So I was already riding solo very early… It was a fight with myself, but I made it,” he explained. “The climbs became heavier and heavier, and even on the descents I had to push hard, so my energy levels dropped significantly in the later laps. Then you start to doubt yourself, but pushing through is the only option.”

A small chasing group, led by Evenepoel, Healy, Skjelmose and Pidcock, worked desperately to close the gap but could not threaten the Slovenian leader. Evenepoel’s effort was heroic, particularly after mechanical misfortune forced him to swap bikes mid-race. He eventually caught the chasing group and powered it forward, taking silver, while Ben Healy rounded out the podium in bronze.

The course itself played a crucial role in shaping the race dynamics. Steep cobbled sections such as the Côte de Kimihurura, combined with technical descents and attritional climbs, continuously tested the riders. “I think this parcours was almost made for this kind of solo,” Pogacar reflected. “Every climb, every cobbled section demanded full concentration. You had to be physically strong, but mentally, too, you had to keep pushing.”

Reflecting on the week as a whole, Pogacar added: “What a week it has been. I really found it a beautiful experience.” From the moment he powered away on Mont Kigali to the final kilometres across the cobbled Côte de Kimihurura, his ride was a masterclass in tactical awareness, endurance, and mental resilience. For a race already marked by attrition, crashes, and mechanical drama, Pogacar’s victory was a testament to both preparation and determination, and it firmly cements him once again as one of the sport’s most formidable performers ever.