Results Mens U23 World Championships Time Trial 2025 | Jakob Söderqvist dominates to claim Rainbow Jersey for Sweden; Pringle & Decomble complete podium

Sweden's Jakob Söderqvist has completed a total and utter domination of the under 23 men's time trial World Championships in Kigali, securing the Rainbow Jersey in style ahead of Nate Pringle and Maxime Decomble.

Proceedings in Kigali opened with local rider Etienne Tuyizere rolling down the start ramp to the delight of the home crowd. He was the first to set a mark on the course, stopping the clock at 16:24 at the opening split and then carrying his effort through to 28:01 at the second checkpoint. Tuyizere eventually posted 43:36 at the line to establish the early benchmark.

Behind him, Said Malale of Tanzania and Mali’s Tiemoko Diamoutene both slotted into provisional second at the first split, though still far from Tuyizere’s pace. The first serious challenge then came from China’s You Li, who went fastest at the opening check with 16:11 and extended his lead through the second intermediate in 27:45. He finished in 42:56, comfortably the best time when he crossed the line.

Slovenia’s Jaka Marolt then raised the bar further. He hit the second checkpoint in 27:13, the provisional best, and consolidated his advantage at the third split with 34:06. Marolt carried his momentum all the way to the finish, stopping the clock in 42:13 to take over as provisional leader.

Meanwhile, there were signs the pace would soon lift considerably. Poland’s Mateusz Gajdulewicz exploded out of the blocks with 14:57 at the opening checkpoint, over a minute faster than any rider before him. Shortly after, Spain’s Hector Alvarez began his effort as the first of the Spanish contingent tipped to challenge for medals. He was second fastest through the opening split in 15:13, 16 seconds down on Gajdulewicz. Gajdulewicz’s blistering ride carried through to the finish, where he became the first rider under 40 minutes with a time of 39:52 to seize a commanding provisional lead. 

Alvarez kept himself in the mix, coming through the second checkpoint in 25:59 for the second best time, though still 25 seconds adrift of Gajdulewicz’s benchmark. He improved further at the third split, clocking 32:40 and cutting the gap on the provisional leader, who had 32:25 at the same point. By the line, Alvarez produced a strong 40:04, good enough for second place in the provisional standings.

With Spain’s second rider, Adria Pericas, also starting his effort, the road began to fill with the late challengers. Nate Pringle lit up the early checks with a 14:48 at the opening split, the fastest time of the day so far at that point. Soon after, Sweden’s Jakob Soderqvist rolled down the start ramp, meaning all riders were now out on the course as the battle for medals approached its climax.

The lead then changed hands again at the finish as Canada’s Jonas Walton produced 39:51 to edge Gajdulewicz by a single second and take provisional first place. His time, however, was soon bettered by Pringle, who confirmed his form by carrying his effort through to the finish in 39:28.

All the while, Sweden’s Jakob Soderqvist had lit up the opening kilometres. He smashed the first checkpoint in 14:22, a full 23 seconds faster than anyone before him, immediately marking himself out as the likely favourite for gold. The fight for the medals tightened further as the finishers came thick and fast. Britain’s Callum Thornley posted 39:36 to move into provisional second, only to be immediately displaced by Italy’s Lorenzo Finn, who stopped the clock in 39:33. Both slotted in behind Pringle.

2nd place was then mixed up again as French talent Maxime Decomble knocked Thornley out of the medals with his effort of 39:28. In terms of the gold though, the writing was on the wall with Jakob Soderqvist 30 seconds quicker than everyone at time check two and 33 seconds at the third check.