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2025-09-28T14:51:03.937Z
Thanks for joining us today, and for this whole World Championships. It’s been a historic occasion in Rwanda, with big crowds lining the road and plenty of thrilling racing and astonishing performances – with Pogačar’s the best of them all.
It seems we say this every time, but it really is hard not to take for granted what he’s been doing these past two years, and keep perspective on just how exceptional he is in all of cycling history. He’ll be wearing those rainbow stripes for yet another twelve months – be sure to join us again when he adorns them at Il Lombardia in a fortnight’s time.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T14:45:42.984Z
Tom Pidcock has just described today as ‘the most unenjoyable race of the year’ in his post-race interview, due to how hard it was.
2025-09-28T14:44:46.843Z
The three medalists: Pogačar, Evenpoel and Healy.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T14:40:28.889Z
There were only 30 finishes today, the last of which was Eritrea’s Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, 12:04 after Pogačar. Even finishing a race as tough as this was an achievement in itself.
2025-09-28T14:34:01.138Z
Cutting a much happier figure at the finish was Ben Healy. A bronze medal for him is one of the best results of his career, in what has been the best season of his career, following his podium finish at Liège–Bastogne–Liège and superb Tour de France.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T14:29:46.326Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T14:28:50.023Z
Remco Evenepoel had to settle for second-place, and was visibly disappointed at the finish. Given his frustrations with his bike early in the race, you imagine that’s where his frustrations are directed at. We’ll learn more when he’s interviewed by the press.
2025-09-28T14:27:19.132Z
Another major race, another history-making turn from Tadej Pogačar. This victory sees him become the first man in history to do the Tour de France / World Championships road race double in consecutive seasons – something even Eddy Merckx never managed.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T14:22:51.152Z
Toms Skujiņš, Ciccone, Del Toro and Ayuso finished in a group together to take 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th respectively, 6:47 behind Pogacar and almost four minutes after Skjelmose.
2025-09-28T14:17:38.375Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T14:15:53.145Z
Skjelmose finishes in fourth place. It’s really unfortunate that he won’t get a medal for his efforts, as he and the other three were a league above the rest today. We’ll have to wait a long time for the fifth place finisher.
2025-09-28T14:14:30.830Z
Now here comes Ben Healy to seal bronze, following in the footsteps of his Irish compatriot Sean Kelly.
BRONZE MEDAL FOR HEALY
2025-09-28T14:12:29.094Z
Evenepoel arrives, 1:32 after Pogačar.
SILVER MEDAL FOR EVENEPOEL
2025-09-28T14:12:06.719Z
Here comes Evenepoel, who’s going to take silver medal. Miles away from Pog, but also miles ahead of third place.
2025-09-28T14:11:01.102Z
He’s done it again! Pogačar crosses the line with arms aloft to retain his title as champion of the world.
TADEJ POGACAR IS THE WORLD CHAMPION
2025-09-28T14:09:55.748Z
Pogačar’s over the top of the climb, and can soak in the atmosphere of this final stretch to the finish line.
1KM TO GO
2025-09-28T14:08:11.235Z
There’s been no hunger knock or crash, as has affected some of his past solo victories in the big races. He’s soloing to victory without it ever really seeming in doubt, since the moment he dropped Del Toro over 60km to go.
2025-09-28T14:06:20.603Z
Pogačar gives his legs a shake as he rides onto the cobbles of the Côte de Kimihurura for the final time. Just a few minutes now until he can take a well-earned rest.
2025-09-28T14:04:37.946Z
4km left for Pogačar, and he leads Evenepoel by 1:25.
2025-09-28T14:03:25.286Z
Healy’ riding clear. He’s got a lead of ten seconds, and it’s growing.
2025-09-28T14:02:54.731Z
Right on cue, Healy does attack, and has dropped Skjelmose.
2025-09-28T14:02:31.446Z
Skjelmose and Healy are still together. Skjelmose is probably the quicker sprinter of the two (remember Amstel Gold?) so Healy may need to attack.
2025-09-28T13:59:59.714Z
Pogačar begins the Côte de Kigali Golf for the final time.
2025-09-28T13:59:24.724Z
Evenepoel is now 50 seconds ahead of Healy and Skjelmose, but remains 1:30 behind Pog.
2025-09-28T13:58:21.364Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T13:56:38.106Z
Just 10 of the race’s 268km are left for Pogačar to ride, his lead nearing 1:30.
10KM TO GO
2025-09-28T13:53:58.157Z
Pogačar is showing some signs that this effort is hurting him, as he pulls a few faces and rocks a bit from side to side.
2025-09-28T13:53:06.038Z
We’ll have to wait a while for Pidcock to arrive – he’s five and a half minutes behind Pogačar.
2025-09-28T13:52:21.134Z
Healy and a grimacing Skjelmose are the next to cross it, about 30 seconds behind Evenepoel. The silver looks out of sight for them, so they’ll have to fight it out for who wins bronze.
2025-09-28T13:51:07.950Z
Now Evenepoel crosses the line, 1:26 after Pogačar.
2025-09-28T13:50:06.928Z
Pogačar hears the bell, surely on his way to victory. Evenepoel has failed to make any inroads since dropping Skjelmose and Healy.
LAST LAP
2025-09-28T13:48:17.262Z
This race has played out so differently from the women’s elite road race yesterday. Whereas the hot favourites then were evenly-matched, allowing for less fancied names to escape up the road in a tactical race, here tactics have meant very little, in what has been a straightforward, crude display of strength.
2025-09-28T13:44:11.926Z
Evenepoel still has 1:08 to make up on Pogačar. That looks insurmountable.
20KM TO GO
2025-09-28T13:42:45.382Z
Evenepoel’s left Healy and Skjelmose for dead, and is now solo, 15 seconds ahead of them already.
2025-09-28T13:41:54.819Z
Remco’s made a move to drop the others, and has a gap.
EVENEPOEL ATTACKS
2025-09-28T13:38:39.410Z
Evenepoel, who needs to be careful not to be jumped and brought out of the medals by Healy and Skjelmose, having done so much work in this group.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T13:35:45.275Z
Pogačar’s lead has grown to 1:20. He stands to better the advanatges he won the Tour of Flanders (1:01) and Liège–Bastogne–Liège (1:03) by earlier this year, and possibly Strade Bianche (1:24)
2025-09-28T13:32:24.338Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T13:29:16.180Z
The gaps between those left in the race are huge, too. Pogačar begins the penultimate lap with a lead of 1:15 on Healy, Skjelmose and Evenepoel, a whole 3:10 on Pidcock, and even more on everyone else.
30KM TO GO
2025-09-28T13:27:36.700Z
This has been an extraordinarily attritional race. Barely anyone has survived – there are little more than 30 riders even left in the race, everyone else having abandoned.
2025-09-28T13:27:00.786Z
Evenepoel leads Healy and Skjelmose up it, who are just about managing to hang on.
2025-09-28T13:26:11.547Z
Pogačar’ riding up the Côte de Kimihurura for the antepenultimate time.
2025-09-28T13:24:09.636Z
Still the gap remains the same, at just over a minute. Pog’s showing no signs of slowing down.
2025-09-28T13:23:01.946Z
Evevenpoel and the only two riders left able to keep up with his pace, Healy and Skjelmose.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T13:18:01.486Z
Pidcock is going backwards. He’s now a minute behind the Evenepoel trio.
2025-09-28T13:14:27.416Z
Still Pogačar leads by a minute. The chasing trio will need to start bringing him back soon to stand a chance of winning.
40KM TO GO
2025-09-28T13:12:03.047Z
Pidcock is 25 seconds behind the Evenepoel group. He’s unlikely to make that time up, especially as he’s riding alone.
2025-09-28T13:11:27.788Z
Healy and Skjelmose will be desperate not be dropped, as both stand to win a first ever senior Worlds medal.
2025-09-28T13:10:30.242Z
As things stand, Pogačar is riding for gold, while silver and bronze will go to two of Healy, Skjelmose and Evenepoel – with one rider missing out.
2025-09-28T13:09:29.558Z
Despite Evenepoel’s work on that climb, Pogačar’s lead has grown a little more, to 1:05 as he crosses the finish line again. Three laps to go.
2025-09-28T13:07:43.996Z
Now Pidcock has lost the wheel.
2025-09-28T13:07:26.239Z
Hindley’s been dropped out the chase group, as Evenepoel lays the hammer down on the Côte de Kimihurura.
2025-09-28T13:05:59.942Z
In the third group on the road, Fabio Christen has attacked.
2025-09-28T13:05:14.075Z
Pogačar’s been in this situation many, many times before, and knows how to pace himself. He’s maintaining his lead of a minute, matching the Evenepoel chase group pedal for pedal.
2025-09-28T13:03:07.329Z
Seixas and Ayuso had been joined by Sivakov, but all three have now fallen back into the main chase group.
2025-09-28T13:01:52.836Z
This is the chase group, where Evenepoel is still doing the lion’s share of the work.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T13:00:47.264Z
The gap remains about 1 minute, as they enter the final fifth of the race. This is where the race’s extreme length will really start to take its toll – riders aren’t used to racing this long let alone on such hard parcours.
50KM TO GO
2025-09-28T12:57:14.084Z
Evenepoel, Healy, Pidcock, Skjelmose and Hindley are all working well together, but aren’t making any inroads. They’re still one minute behind.
2025-09-28T12:54:51.538Z
Pogačar’s looking very strong and untroubled at the front, over a minute between himself and everyone else.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T12:52:51.581Z
Behind the 5-man front chase group, Ayuso and a very impressive Seixas have fromed a two-man chase ahead of the main group.
2025-09-28T12:49:57.756Z
Evenepoel’s looking strong again, but isn’t making any inroads just yet, with his chase group still a minute behind Pogačar.
60KM TO GO
2025-09-28T12:45:58.449Z
Evenepoel’s the man making all the damage, riding at the front and pounding on the pedals.
2025-09-28T12:45:22.200Z
It’s all chance on the Côte de Kimihurura! Evenepoel has gone clear with Pidcock, Hindley Skjelmose, bridged up to the chase group, and have dropped all of them apart from Healy.
2025-09-28T12:43:59.252Z
Evenepoel is still up for this. He’s leading the second chase group, and is making the others in it hurt as they climb up the cobbles once more.
2025-09-28T12:42:15.344Z
Del Toro has been caught by Healy, Sivakov and Honoré, who are 55 seconds behind Pogačar.
2025-09-28T12:41:28.309Z
With 65km to go, was that the final race-winning move?
2025-09-28T12:40:59.501Z
It wasn’t a big attack, and occurred on the less hard Côte de Kigali Golf rather than the Côte de Kimihurura, but Del Toro is clearly still struggling.
2025-09-28T12:38:51.315Z
Del Toro’s been dropped again, and this time Pogačar isn’t waiting!
POGACAR ATTACKS
2025-09-28T12:37:14.923Z
Evenepoel is back in the group. He’s still in contention, despite that crisis.
2025-09-28T12:36:44.215Z
For the first time in a while, Del Toro has taken a turn. He looks to be recovering after struggling on the last climb.
2025-09-28T12:36:07.714Z
Evenepoel is getting there. Hermans is doing a good job, and has brought him to within the team cars, which they’re now surfing to get near to the main chase group again.
2025-09-28T12:35:03.315Z
Evenepoel at the road side, cutting a frustrated figure.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T12:33:36.578Z
Healy, Sivakov and Honoré are going well, bringing the two leaders back to just over 30 seconds, and increasing their lead over the rest of the chasers to 20 seconds. Evenepoel still has 30 seconds to make up to get back into that chase group.
70KM TO GO
2025-09-28T12:32:03.184Z
Evenepoel at last has some help, as Hermans drops back from the group ahead to pace him.
2025-09-28T12:31:34.068Z
Campanaerts is finished, and has abandoned. His work earlier might have been in vain, what with Evenepoel’s mechanical problems.
2025-09-28T12:30:13.584Z
Evenepoel has a few riders with him, but getting no assistance from any of them.
2025-09-28T12:29:34.762Z
That trio are about 5 seconds ahead of the large chase group.
2025-09-28T12:28:58.572Z
Further ahead, Healy’s attacked managed to put daylight between himself and the other chasers, and he’s been joined by Sivakov and Honoré.
2025-09-28T12:28:16.206Z
Evenepoel is a whole minute behind the chase group, and 1:45 behind the leading duo.
2025-09-28T12:26:47.986Z
He’s got a new bike and is back riding again, but had to wait for a long time to wait it, and faces a chase to get back into the chase group.
2025-09-28T12:26:20.379Z
He looks very, very frustrated, kicking something on the ground while he waits.
2025-09-28T12:25:45.243Z
Evenepoel has stopped at the side of the road to wait for his team car.
2025-09-28T12:25:22.681Z
Healy attacks out of the chase group as they go over the top of the climb.
2025-09-28T12:25:02.573Z
Evenepoel is frantically putting his arm up in the air for attention, wanting to sort out his latest bike problem.
2025-09-28T12:24:21.682Z
By slowing down to allow Del Toro to stay on his wheel, Pogačar has allowed the chasers to reduce the gap to about 45 seconds.
2025-09-28T12:23:40.336Z
This is happening on the cobbled Kimihurura climb. Back in the peloton, Evenepoel is dropping back down the peloton again.
2025-09-28T12:22:55.571Z
Pogačar doesn’t want to lose his companion. He’s knocked off the pace to allow Del Toro to regain his wheel.
2025-09-28T12:22:23.997Z
Del Toro is being dropped by Pogačar!
DEL TORO DROPPED
2025-09-28T12:21:38.026Z
Evenepoel is not a happy bunny. He’s giving his handlebars a real bash, clearly not content with his bike, despite having changed bikes earlier.
2025-09-28T12:20:15.761Z
Just under a minute now for the two leaders. This is going to take some chase to bring them back.
80KM TO GO
2025-09-28T12:19:45.992Z
Mohorič has abandoned. He and the Pog’s other Slovenian teammates’ work is done, apart from Roglič, who remains lurking in the chase group.
2025-09-28T12:17:42.562Z
So the onus is back on the Belgians to chase, and Hermans and Uijtdebroeks take it up.
2025-09-28T12:17:06.715Z
Jay Vine, as is Michael Matthews. Australia had been looking good leading the group, but are now down to just Jai Hindley and Michael Storer.
2025-09-28T12:15:37.226Z
There’s an Eritrean representative in this chase group – Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier.
2025-09-28T12:14:45.075Z
The chase group has about 35 riders in it, and are being led by the Italians and Australians.
2025-09-28T12:12:38.375Z
Vine and Ciccone are among those to have joined the chase group, having missed the initial selection.
2025-09-28T12:10:45.110Z
Pogačar and Del Toro going clear on the Mur de Kigali.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T12:08:45.178Z
This chase group is growing all the time. There’s now about 40 riders in it.
2025-09-28T12:07:52.582Z
Bike change for Evenepoel. He clearly wasn’t happy about something.
2025-09-28T12:07:27.560Z
Pogačar and Del Toro lead the chasers by 50 seconds. That’s a big lead already, but there’s a long, long way to go.
90KM TO GO
2025-09-28T12:06:46.546Z
Perhaps as a result of its size, the chase group is looking very disorganised, with multiple riders trying to attack out of and and form a smaller group.
2025-09-28T12:05:56.537Z
Pogačar and Del Toro cross the finish line, and are back on the main circuit, of which they have six more laps left to complete.
2025-09-28T12:04:38.131Z
This is therefore a big chase group, of over 20 riders.
2025-09-28T12:04:14.367Z
The Evenepoel chase group has caught the front chase group.
2025-09-28T12:03:54.948Z
Carapaz tries an attack.
2025-09-28T12:02:55.394Z
Colombia’s Harold Tejada was also in that front chase group, and has attacked out of it.
2025-09-28T12:02:15.098Z
Evenepoel is not even the leading Beligian rider, with Uijtdebroeks in the first chase group.
2025-09-28T12:01:10.334Z
They’re 48 seconds behind the leading duo while another chase group featuring Evenepoel and Pidcock are 10 further seconds adrift.
2025-09-28T12:00:17.478Z
The riders in the main chase group: Healy, Carapaz, Skjelmose, Hindley, Matthews, Roglič, Bernard, Sivakov, Seixas, Hirschi, Mollema, Uijtdebroeks and Ayuso.
2025-09-28T11:55:01.230Z
A chase group of about 10 rider are about to catch Ayuso. Evenepoel is not among them.
2025-09-28T11:54:11.486Z
Ayuso has been dropped on the climb.
2025-09-28T11:53:54.828Z
The riders are on the Mur de Kigali, the brutally steep cobbled 300m climb that averages a horrile 14.7%. The crowds here are enormous, and making a cacophony of noise.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T11:52:01.965Z
A large chase group has formed behind, about 15 seconds behind.
100KM TO GO
2025-09-28T11:51:20.230Z
Del Toro has bridged up to them. So we have three UAE riders together at the front of the race, all riding for different nations.
2025-09-28T11:49:50.710Z
Pogačar and Ayuso are over the top. A few seconds behind, Del Toro is chasing on his own.
2025-09-28T11:49:23.300Z
Evenepoel doesn’t look happy, he seems to have a problem with his saddle.
2025-09-28T11:49:04.594Z
Pogačar and Ayuso have caught and dropped Bernard.
2025-09-28T11:48:34.692Z
Evenepoel is going backwards, sliding down the peloton.
2025-09-28T11:48:15.188Z
Only Ayuso is left on Pog’s wheel.
2025-09-28T11:48:01.238Z
Carapaz had been there but is now dropped.
2025-09-28T11:47:36.301Z
Evenepoel is not among them, he’s been dropped.
2025-09-28T11:47:18.690Z
It’s not an explosive attack, but only four riders are with him
POGACAR ATTACK
2025-09-28T11:46:30.956Z
Pogačar has moved to the front and upped the pace!
2025-09-28T11:46:15.469Z
Another Slovenian is dropped, this time Mohorič. Pogačar is running out of teammates – but he might not need them for much longer.
2025-09-28T11:44:52.900Z
Bernard leads alone, but only by 1 minute on the peloton now.
2025-09-28T11:44:32.843Z
Slovenia have taken control of the peloton, Pogačar’s Slovenian (and UAE) teammate Novak leading after Glivar swings off.
2025-09-28T11:43:08.950Z
Frayre has been caught, so whatever that plan was has not come into fruition.
2025-09-28T11:42:18.613Z
Mexico’s Eder Frayre has attacked out of the peloton. Does Del Toro have something planned for this climb?
2025-09-28T11:41:36.346Z
And now Bernard drops Foldager, making the Frenchman the race’s lone leader.
2025-09-28T11:41:05.356Z
Oliveira has been dropped on the climb, leaving just Bernard and Foldager at the front.
2025-09-28T11:39:26.970Z
More riders are being dropped, including another of the Slovenian riders, this time Luka Mezgec.
2025-09-28T11:38:37.014Z
The climb’s too much for African star Biniam Girmay, who’s been dropped already. He lamented the amount of climbing the organisers included in this route, which have taken away his chances of winning the race – as we’re seeing now.
2025-09-28T11:37:01.052Z
The leading trio are on the climb, fans lining the road on either side of them.
MONT KIGALI
2025-09-28T11:35:18.549Z
Florian Vermeersch’s day is finally done, dropping off the back having done so much work leading the peloton.
2025-09-28T11:34:49.674Z
The race is really on now. Multiple teams are all battling at the front of the peloton, giving it their all to put their leaders in the best position possible for Mont Kigali.
2025-09-28T11:32:58.650Z
The pace is up in the peloton as they prepare for the climb, but the leading trio are pushing on too, and have maintained their lead of two minutes.
110KM TO GO
2025-09-28T11:31:43.779Z
Bad timing for Eritrea’s Natnael Tesfatsion, who’s had a mechanical just as they approach the all-important climb.
2025-09-28T11:30:26.437Z
They’re approaching the foot of Mont Kigali. It’s much longer than all the other climbs they take on today, at 5.9km, but also rises at a steep gradient, which averages 6.7%, and features ramps of over 13% towards the top.
2025-09-28T11:27:48.211Z
Huge crowds greet the riders as they go over the top of the climb. There’s likely to be even more when they take on the next hill, Mont Kigali, which is the longest and hardest of the day.
2025-09-28T11:24:47.924Z
The peloton can see the four riders dropped from the break and are about to catch them, as the take on this climb.
2025-09-28T11:22:13.923Z
The riders are climbing the Côte de Peage, a 2.2km effort that averages 5.8%.
2025-09-28T11:20:33.554Z
Foldager, Oliveira and Bernard’s upping of the pace has seen them increase their lead over the peloton to two minutes. You’d expect to see the riders they dropped return to the peloton sometime soon.
120KM TO GO
2025-09-28T11:18:14.845Z
Incidentally, Schmid was brought back by the peloton a few kilometres ago.
2025-09-28T11:15:02.122Z
Pierna, Christen and Mayrhofer are already 45 seconds adrift from the leading three. It seems unlikely they will see them again.
2025-09-28T11:13:57.705Z
Huising is now getting dropped by the other three.
2025-09-28T11:13:03.902Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T11:11:13.141Z
There’s a split in the lead group. Mayrhofer, Christen and Pierna have lost contact with Foldager, Bernard, Oliveira and Huising.
2025-09-28T11:07:35.129Z
It’s kicking off in the peloton already, with Mauro Schmid making an attack.
2025-09-28T11:07:08.725Z
The gap’s at about 1:30, but at this rate will continue to fall as the peloton ups the pace.
130KM TO GO
2025-09-28T11:06:20.065Z
This is where the race will diverge from what we’ve seen so far, with the riders leaving the short circuit to take on a longer one, including a few new climbs.
2025-09-28T11:05:08.585Z
While Ruvalcaba has abandoned the race, Del Toro’s other Mexican teammate, Eder Frayre is right at the front helping the pace-setting. His work with the Belgian’s has seen the gap fall significantly in recent kilometres, to about 1:35, as they cross the line for the ninth time.
2025-09-28T10:57:40.579Z
While Pogačar and Evenepoel are the favourites, Isaac del Toro could throw a real spanner in the works. He’s young and has no experiences of racing this distance, and has a weaker Mexican team of just two domestiques to support him (one of whom, David Ruvalcaba has just abandoned); but the way he rode at the Giro earlier this year, and his prolific run of victories since then, means he has to be watched closely.
2025-09-28T10:52:23.101Z
While we wait for the action to kick off, have a read of the riders we picked out as the main ones to watch in the fight for the rainbow jersey.
2025-09-28T10:50:46.021Z
Belgium continue to lead the peloton, keeping the gap hovering at around 2:10.
140KM TO GO
2025-09-28T10:47:40.726Z
Govekar and Primožič both have now abandoned, following Žumer from earlier. That leaves Pogačar down to 6 teammates.
2025-09-28T10:44:23.805Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T10:42:59.921Z
Pogačar has lost anothe teammate from the peloton on that climb, with Matevž Govekar following Primožič in being dropped.
2025-09-28T10:42:09.021Z
The pace was up on that climb, the gap coming down anout 30 seconds to just over two minutes due to the work from Belgium.
2025-09-28T10:39:32.729Z
They’re taking on the cobbled climb again, and Iván Romeo and Slovenia’s Jaka Primožič are the latest to be dropped.
2025-09-28T10:37:58.168Z
The gap between the seven leaders and the peloton remains much the same, at 2:40.
150KM TO GO
2025-09-28T10:37:22.434Z
Evenepoel is feeling buoyant following his victory in the time trial last weekend, and is now looking to seal a Worlds double in the same manner he did at the Olympics last year. He says he and the Belgium team have a plan for how to defeat Pogačar.
2025-09-28T10:28:19.913Z
Evenepoel, making his way back to the peloton.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T10:26:19.672Z
Evenepoel is back in the peloton. That took him a lot less time than it did for Pogačar the lap before.
2025-09-28T10:25:50.800Z
Pogačar’s down a teammate – Matic Žumer is the latest to abandon.
2025-09-28T10:25:02.979Z
Evenepoel follows in Pogačar’s stead by using the portable toilet at the start of the circuit for a comfort break.
2025-09-28T10:22:41.050Z
The gap continues to hold steady, at 2:30.
160KM TO GO
2025-09-28T10:19:47.603Z
There’s been a slight change at the front of the peloton as the near the end of the seventh lap, with Belgium now taking total control while the Slovenians drop back more, not having resumed at the front since Pogačar returned to the peloton.
2025-09-28T10:18:47.988Z
Georg Zimmermann is the latest rider to drop out the back of the peloton labouring on the cobbles up the Côte de Kimihurura. The race might not be on yet in terms of attacks and accelerations, but this brutal course is still taking its toll.
2025-09-28T10:15:43.396Z
You can read more on the abandons of Julian Alaphilippe and the other big names who have dropped out already.
2025-09-28T10:12:47.867Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T10:07:53.918Z
The pace remained much the same during Pogačar’s time out the back. The gap is still at 2:30.
170KM TO GO
2025-09-28T10:06:54.745Z
One rider who hasn’t made it back into the peloton is Luke Plapp. The Australian has abandoned.
2025-09-28T10:06:23.869Z
Pogačar and his two teammates are back in the peloton.
2025-09-28T10:03:15.327Z
Pogačar’s just had to stop with a couple of teammates, and is now making his way back to the peloton. It must have been for either a comfort break or a mechanical.
2025-09-28T10:00:41.897Z
Belgium’s Florian Vermeersch leads the peloton over the finish line to complete the sixth lap, swamped by the green contingent of Slovenian riders behind him. Just three more laps now until they head off the small circuit for the first time to take on the big circuit out of town.
2025-09-28T09:58:22.262Z
While others blamed the tactics for the favourites’ failure to bring back the break yesterday, Kasia Niewiadoma pointed out how the conditions made things difficult for them. We shouldn’t understate how much all this riding at high altitude will sap away at the riders’ strength throughout the day – and could produce more surprise results today.
2025-09-28T09:55:01.866Z
It’ still Slovenia and Belgium pulling at the front of the peloton.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T09:53:52.645Z
The gap’s come down some more, to 2:33. Slovenia and Belgium aren’t granting these riders too much of a lead.
180KM TO GO
2025-09-28T09:52:13.185Z
Elisa Longo Borghini praised the breakaway medalists, while also lamenting how her group was ‘a bit stupid’. ‘It’s pretty clear what happened. Everyone was looking at each other, and we lost the race.’
2025-09-28T09:49:09.854Z
While some were frustrated with yesterday’s women’s road race, others felt they couldn’t have done much more. One rider was Demi Vollering, whose Dutch team were this year more disappointed by their lack of legs than their lack of cooperation.
2025-09-28T09:47:09.433Z
Will Barta is the latest to abanon the race, having done some work at the front of the peloton earlier for USA.
2025-09-28T09:46:27.894Z
Luke Plapp as been dropped from the peloton. That’s a surprise, given how good a climber he is, and how low the pace is at the moment.
2025-09-28T09:45:41.641Z
Kim Le Court-Pienaar was also frustrated with how yesterday’s race unfolded, criticising the riders accompanying her in the group of favourites for not working together.
2025-09-28T09:43:12.073Z
It’s 2:48 now for the lead group. That’s come down a few seconds over the last few kilometres.
2025-09-28T09:42:05.271Z
Taking heed from yesterday’s race, the favourites will not want to lose control of the race should it start getting chaotic. This morning the news was full of discontented riders lamenting the wasted opportunity. Tour de France champion Pauline Ferrand-Prévot called the race a ‘big mess.’
2025-09-28T09:38:10.129Z
Slovenia, along with Belgium’s Florian Vermeersch, lead the peloton as they climb the Côte de Kimihurura for the fifth time. They will be all too familiar with it by the end of the day – they still have eleven more ascents of it to complete.
2025-09-28T09:34:12.898Z
Mechanical for Victor Campanaerts. He could have a big role to play for Evenepoel later today, remembering the brilliant work he did as a domestique for Jonas Vingegaard’s Visma-Lease a Bike at the Tour de France.
2025-09-28T09:28:36.614Z
While it’s calm for now, the early attacks might foreshadow how this race will be taken on later, as riders try to figure out a way to stop Tadej Pogačar from doing his thing.
Yesterday’s women’s road race might provide a template, given how the victor came from an early move that took the favourites off guard. In her own words, here’s how Magdeleine Vallieres said she claimed that unlikely victory.
2025-09-28T09:24:03.764Z
The break’s lead has grown over the last few kilometres since the climb, and has exceeded three minutes for the first time today.
200KM TO GO
2025-09-28T09:23:02.412Z
They’ve been racing for over an hour and a half, and there are still 200km left to ride. This is one of the most demanding races of the year.
2025-09-28T09:20:22.934Z
France are down from nine riders to seven already, with Louis Barré the latest to pull out. He was seen dropping out of the peloton, and, like Alaphilippe, looked out of sorts. Illness in the French team, perhaps?
2025-09-28T09:18:52.223Z
Here is home favourite Eric Manizabayo, on the attack.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T09:15:42.033Z
Manizabayo is battling up the climb to huge cheers from the crowd, and the race announcer, and just about stays clear of the peloton by the top. The race for the rainbow jersey might not be fully on yet, but Manizabayo is involved in his own mission.
2025-09-28T09:12:47.642Z
The peloton’s defecit to the leads has come down a little, to just under two minutes. Manizabayo is hovering just a few seconds ahead of them.
210KM TO GO
2025-09-28T09:12:04.521Z
Mechanical for Frank van den Broek, as they take on the cobbled Kimihurura climb again.
2025-09-28T09:09:44.444Z
Just as we say that, another attack comes out of the peloton – and it’s the same rider as usual, Eric Manizabayo. The Rwandan is desperate to put on a show for his home crowds.
2025-09-28T09:08:06.012Z
It’s all much calmer in the peloton now. The riders amble though a fed one and pick up bidons, to keep themselves hydrated in the humid conditions.
2025-09-28T09:05:22.030Z
Unsurprisingly, Pogačar’s Slovenia and Evenepoel’s Belgium teams have done the bulk of the work at the front of the peloton, though they’ve now been joined by the USA.
2025-09-28T09:01:58.790Z
Van Wilder is soldiering on, but he’s got a lot of ground to make up to rejoin the peloton. This is bad news for Evenepoel, as he’s one of the Belgian’s top domestiques.
2025-09-28T09:00:10.240Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T08:58:03.706Z
Soler has also dropped out.
2025-09-28T08:57:32.574Z
Britain’s Bjorn Koerdt had got back up and riding after being one of those to crash, but has now decided to abandon.
2025-09-28T08:56:33.143Z
Rwanda’s attacker Manizabayo is back in the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:56:14.573Z
It seems all those involved in the crash are back on the bike, but some, including Van Wilder, are looking a little worse for wear.
2025-09-28T08:55:06.549Z
Meanwhile up ahead, Pierna has at last joined the leaders, who now have a lead of 2:40 on the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:53:54.371Z
There’s been a crash, some of the big nations involved. Belgium’s Van Wilder and Spain’s Soler are both involved.
2025-09-28T08:53:04.412Z
Jai Hindley of Australia needs a wheel change. Thankfully for him, this mechanical has happened during a calmer phase of the race.
2025-09-28T08:49:30.298Z
Pierna is closing in on the leaders, now just 20 seconds away.
2025-09-28T08:47:27.015Z
There’s another attack from the peloton, this time from a home favourite, Rwanda’s Eric Manizabayo. They’re happy to let this one go.
2025-09-28T08:45:40.896Z
Several riders representing the less renowned nations have already abandoned. This has been a gruelling start to the race, with attacking being made when you’d expect the race to be settled.
2025-09-28T08:40:15.997Z
The leading sextet have almost two minutes again on the peloton, with Pierna about halfway in between.
230KM TO GO
2025-09-28T08:38:52.453Z
Here’s the breakaway, climbing during the last lap.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T08:37:30.393Z
Madouas is back in the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:37:10.461Z
Alaphilippe, on the attack before abandoning the race.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T08:35:09.279Z
The peloton has settled down again, and is allowing the lead group’s advantage to grow again. Pierna is still in between the two groups.
2025-09-28T08:34:04.924Z
It’s been confirmed that Alaphilippe has abandoned the race. That was a typically erratic cameo from the Frenchman, attacking one moment, then out the back shortly after. We can only assume he must be suffering from some kind of ill-health, as the two-time champion was one of the outside favourites for the victory.
2025-09-28T08:32:38.528Z
Pidcock is back in the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:31:03.084Z
He had been joined by Campanaerts, Tejada, Wright and Seixas, but they’re all set to be reabsorbed by the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:30:02.610Z
Del Toro has sat up, along with other attackers.
2025-09-28T08:28:56.459Z
It’s all still kicking off in the peloton – Del Toro is one of the latest to attack!
2025-09-28T08:28:12.788Z
Tom Pidcock is also out the back, presumably with some kind of mechanical problem.
2025-09-28T08:27:26.506Z
Madouas has had to drop back with a mechanical. We’ve already seen most of the French contingent today, be it out the back or the front of the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:26:42.584Z
The flurry of action has seen the leading 6’s gap gall to only a little more than a minute Pierna is about 10 seconds ahead of the peloton.
240KM TO GO
2025-09-28T08:25:41.309Z
The peloton.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T08:23:45.318Z
The peloton is back together, but still the French are trying to break it up, as another riders tries an attack.
2025-09-28T08:22:24.722Z
Raúl García Pierna is the lastest to attack from the peloton, and has a gap.
2025-09-28T08:21:45.019Z
Having been up the road moments ago, Alaphilippe is now dropped out the back.
2025-09-28T08:21:23.131Z
That’s stretched the bunch out, to the point where a small group has gone off the front. Among them are the Slovenian riders, who are gesturing for more calm.
2025-09-28T08:20:37.371Z
There are more attacks from the peloton, and again it’s the French who are igniting it, this time with Valentin Paret-Peintre and Paul Seixas.
2025-09-28T08:19:41.187Z
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T08:17:37.970Z
We have our first DNF of the day – Ahmet Örken of Turkey.
2025-09-28T08:16:40.970Z
The peloton don’t like Alaphilippe’s presence up the road. They upped the race, and have brought him back along with Batsaikhan.
2025-09-28T08:14:56.412Z
Alaphilippe is up to Batsaikhan and is pressing on.
2025-09-28T08:14:40.196Z
Just when it had seemed the race was settling down, there’s been an attack. Ever the aggressor and unpredictable racer, Julian Alaphilippe has jumped out of the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:13:20.398Z
The six leaders are two minutes ahead of the peloton, with Batsaikhan about halfway in between.
250KM TO GO
2025-09-28T08:10:09.569Z
In between, Mongolia’s Tegsh-Bayar Batsaikhan attacked out of the peloton and wanted to join the leader. He has a substantial gap to make up, of almost a minute.
2025-09-28T08:08:55.259Z
The peloton has sat up, apparently happy with the make up of this break, despite the strong names and nations represented. They’re over a minute adrift.
2025-09-28T08:08:08.080Z
Make that 6 – Bernard has succeeded in bridging up to them.
2025-09-28T08:07:37.564Z
Despite the attacks, the five leaders are all together as they cross the finish line, upon completion of the first lap.
2025-09-28T08:04:57.314Z
As the riders climb the cobbled Côte de Kimihurura, for the first time, the front group is threatening to break up, with Oliveira trying to accelerate from the others.
2025-09-28T08:03:07.274Z
Julien Bernard is trying to bridge up from the peloton to the break.
2025-09-28T08:01:25.323Z
Already a few riders have been dropped out of the peloton.
2025-09-28T08:00:19.064Z
Anders Foldager and Fabio Christen have joined the front group.
2025-09-28T07:59:00.221Z
This is a strong trio – Mayrhofer, Oliveira and Huising are all elite riders. They have a lead of about 7 seconds.
260KM TO GO
2025-09-28T07:56:59.548Z
And now Walters has been dropped by those three.
2025-09-28T07:56:48.265Z
Huising, Marius Mayrhoffer and Ivo Oliveira have caught Walters.
2025-09-28T07:55:20.675Z
Menno Huising from he Dutch team is in pursuit of Walters, who leads by a handful of seconds.
2025-09-28T07:54:39.716Z
The Slovenian team leading the peloton during the neutralised section.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T07:50:26.182Z
Red Walters of Grenada is the first rider to get a gap.
2025-09-28T07:49:49.176Z
Lots of the conspicuous green jersey of Pogačar’s Slovenian team are massed near the front of the peloton, no doubt wanting to stay attentive to make sure no dangerous riders get up the road.
2025-09-28T07:48:48.168Z
And they’re off!
OFFICIAL START
2025-09-28T07:47:59.840Z
This long day of racing is about to get underway, as the riders move through the neutralised section in Kigali. Anticipation is building!
2025-09-28T07:43:57.166Z
Yesterday’s elite women’s road race also demonstrated how this route can produce unpredictable racing. In that race, all of the top tier favourites were thwarted as Magdeleine Vallieres became one of the most surprising winners of the rainbow jersey in the event’s history. That race showed how this route, though selective, can ignite chaos, and be difficult for even the strongest teams to control.
2025-09-28T07:39:25.524Z
There are reasons to believe that Pogačar might not have everything his own way. On his last day of racing, back at the beginning of the Championships, he suffered one of his most humbling days when Remco Evenepoel trounced him in the time trial. Evenepoel is riding again today, and is set to be Pogačar’s main rival for gold.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T07:35:17.661Z
There’s no doubt who the favourite is today. Tadej Pogačar won last year’s race at a canter, and has spent his year in the rainbow jersey in virtually unbeatable form. On a selective route that suits him, all eyes will be on the Slovenian.
(Image credit: Getty Images)
2025-09-28T07:30:48.822Z
A week of thrilling racing in Kigali comes to a close with the final event of the Championships – the elite men’s road race.
2025-09-25T14:21:57.009Z
Hello and welcome to the 2025 World Championships men’s road race!