Results Men's World Championships Time Trial 2025 | Remco Evenepoel puts in performance of a lifetime to destroy field; Tadej Pogacar misses podium

Remco Evenepoel has produced a masterclass against the clock at the 2025 Kigali World Championships, obliterating the field to claim the men’s elite time trial world title. The Belgian was in a class of his own from the opening split, carving out huge gaps on his rivals and even catching and passing Tadej Pogacar out on course. Behind the runaway Evenepoel, Jay Vine and Ilan van Wilder completed the podium.

The men’s time trial in Kigali began with huge local excitement as Rwanda’s Shemu Nsengiyumva rolled down the start ramp as the first rider. He set an early benchmark of 56:41, a ride that drew loud cheers from the home fans. Laurent Gervais of Canada slotted into second at that stage, while the gaps among the early starters highlighted the gulf between amateurs and professionals — South Sudan’s Jalal Edward, without a time trial bike, was already more than nine minutes down at the first split.

The complexion of the race changed once the professional riders entered. Florian Vermeersch was the first to go, and he immediately stamped his authority on the course. Fastest at every time check, the Belgian powered through the Kigali roads to finish in 54:49, comfortably dislodging Nsengiyumva and taking over at the top of the standings.

The intensity ratcheted up again as the favourites took to the road. Michael Leonard was the first to make a major impression, building on his fast opening split to storm to the finish in 53:39, briefly the best time. Behind him, Ilan Van Wilder was flying: 42 seconds quicker than Leonard at the second split, almost a minute faster by the third, and ultimately obliterating the clock with 52:22 at the line — more than a minute clear of anyone before him.

Others were quick to stake their claims. Paul Seixas started brightly, just five seconds down on Van Wilder at the first check, but faded through the middle sector. Isaac del Toro, one of the riders tipped for the podium, was sharp at the opening time check — nine seconds quicker than Tobias Foss Leknessund, who had briefly gone fastest — while Artem Nych surprised with a strong ride.

The later starters brought the race into its decisive phase. Plapp produced a solid effort to finish just 27 seconds down on Van Wilder, while Leknessund went even closer, stopping the clock 21 seconds behind after holding his deficit to only 15 seconds at the third check.

Attention then turned to the headline favourites. Jay Vine began with intent, just two seconds down on Del Toro at the first intermediate, then surged into the overall lead at the second split with 31:40, a full 26 seconds faster than Van Wilder. Bruno Armirail and Stefan Kung were also in the mix, while Iván Romeo launched into his first elite Worlds ITT.

All eyes, though, were on the two marquee names. Tadej Pogacar, riding on his birthday, went second fastest at the first check, less than a second behind Del Toro. Yet moments later Remco Evenepoel blew the race apart: fastest of everyone at the opening split, an astonishing 44 seconds quicker than both Pogacar and Del Toro. At the second intermediate, Pogacar faltered, conceding 25 seconds to Vine, while Evenepoel’s surge made clear the scale of his dominance — 1:17 faster than Vine and 1:42 quicker than Pogacar. As the Belgian closed in on his great rival on the road, it already looked as though the battle for the rainbow jersey was all but over.

By the third check, the gulf had widened still further. Pogacar was 34 seconds slower than Vine, while Evenepoel was closing to within half a minute of catching him on the road, already 1:58 faster. The Slovenian was also beginning to lose time to Van Wilder, underlining just how brutally the Belgian champion was putting the race to the sword.

As Jay Vine crossed the line with the new fastest time, Evenepoel was reaching the back wheel of Pogacar, threatening an incredible catch of the Slovenian superstar. With around 2km to go, that catch was completed in an instantly iconic moment in World Championship history.