"This is a humbling defeat for Tadej Pogacar" - Remco Evenepoel ruins Pogacar's birthday party with a stunning ride

Remco Evenepoel joined the legendary timetrialists Tony Martin and Michael Rogers in the three-peat club today. Since 2023, we have not seen another man wear the rainbow jersey in an individual time trial and while two-time world champion Filippo Ganna put up a great fight the past two years, Evenepoel was outside anyone's reach in Kigali. Not even the phenomenon of our era, Tadej Pogacar, could challenge the flying Belgian.

While the Slovenian crossed the first time check in a time that was on par with the best at the time, Evenepoel showed everyone that he's not in Rwanda to make friends and put 45 seconds into Pogacar. A time that seemed almost like an error. But as riders passed the second control and Evenepoel's advantage grew way past one minute mark, it became clear that he won't be beaten on Sunday. And on the other camera, we saw Pogacar losing ground even in the battle for podium.

"Could you imagine that?" gasped Rob Hatch on TNT Sports commentary as the gap continued to increase at the second time check. "Pogacar is not just on the ropes, he is stumbling here. And Evenepoel can knock him to the canvas with a few more pedal strokes."

As the gap between the last two men on the road continued to grow, the visual distance started to evaporate. And then, not far from the finish line, it happened. Remco caught Pogacar and passed the Tour de France winner. Sweet revenge for the Belgian who was humbled by the Slovenian at this year's Grande Boucle when the man in yellow passed him in the mountain time-trial to Peyragudes with finish line in sight.

"Press record, look at this moment. Keep it for prosperity," Hatch cried. "This is Tadej Pogacar, the modern GOAT, caught by his two-and-a-half-minute man."

Pogacar turned 27 today and a rainbow jersey would've been more than decent extra reason to celebrate. But despite the hilly parcours should've fit Pogacar on paper, the spark in the eyes that is so typical for the Slovenian seemed to have not been there today.

"Today all the talk on his 27th birthday was that Pogacar could possibly do this on a parcours that suited him. But Remco Evenepoel has turned up and has completely obliterated Pogi. This is a humbling defeat for Tadej Pogacar," Hatch said.

"When that image flashed up, I think collectively around the world lots of you will have been saying words towards your television that I can't repeat. It was that astounding."

On being caught, Pogacar could only offer admiration. "I’m disappointed Remco caught me, but he's so fast, it's incredible how good he is in the discipline. Chapeau really, what a ride by him."

Even more painfully for the Slovenian, a bronze medal slipped between his fingers as Ilan Van Wilder, Evenepoel's compatriot, completed the course a one second faster than Pogacar. The 25-year-old rose above both UAE's GC stars with Isaac del Toro further three seconds down the results in fifth place. Only Jay Vine's incredible ride to finish second could've drawn a glimpse of smile on Pogacar's face after the effort.