"Pogacar was not, absolutely not at all, in danger" - Mart Smeets on Kigali worlds domination

The 2025 World Championships are officially over but Tadej Pogacar's performance sent more shockwaves throughout the cycling world. Despite having achieved his first rainbow jersey in similar fashion 12 months ago, his ride in Kigali was nothing short of impressive and potentially even within his limit according to some.

"I thought the winner's entry was understated, beautiful, and simple. The way he was dressed so subdued, beautifully, and simply. He rode without a watch. There was no ring, no chain, no bling to be seen. Here, everything was purely for that man," Mart Smeets said in De Kopgroep podcast.

"He spread his wings like an eagle, and that was it." Pogacar's victory was quite similar to that of Zurich, with an attack over 100 kilometers from the finish line, and then going solo from a very long way out as the riders who followed him didn't have the legs to do it any further after a few kilometers. This led to an hour-and-a-half long solo ride through the roads of the Rwandan capital to successfully defend his world title.

"It was a very pure and pristine victory, the likes of which we've rarely seen in our lives. The man was in control of everything. He rode 66 kilometers solo, simply spreading his arms wide. And not making a show of it. To show the sports world: that's how you do sports."

Pogacar's ride was unmatchable, despite Remco Evenepoel also putting out a staggering performance - hindered by bike issues, although it's not clear how many were in actual need of fix.

Smeets believes that the Belgian struggled psychologically during the race. "There was another tiny hand. The fact that he then crumpled like a sack of salt and literally didn't know where the North Pole was was so telling".

"The man had achieved a historic victory in the time trial a week earlier. In the road race, they really put him in his place. Pogacar was not, absolutely not at all, in danger."

Could we have a repeat however at the upcoming European Championships road race? The two will go face-to-face once again in a very difficult circuit but this time around they will be joined by the likes of Jonas Vingegaard and João Almeida who come in with a very different preparation.