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Tadej Pogacar won the men’s road race at the World Championships in Switzerland to complete one of the greatest seasons in cycling history with a race for the ages.
The Tour de France and Giro d’Italia winner added the World Championship title to complete a remarkable ‘Triple Crown’, making an extraordinary early break with 100km of the brutal 273km course to go.
The 26-year-old from Slovenia rode solo from 50km out and held oto claim a stunning victory ahead of a chasing group that included Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel and reigning world champion Mathieu van der Poel.
Australia’s Ben O’Connor made a late burst to claim silver while Van der Poel was able to sprint for bronze.
“I cannot believe what just happened,” Pogacar said after crossing the line 35 seconds ahead of O’Connor, having ridden the final 100km on his own with eyes of adding the rainbow jersey to his collection.
“After this kind of season I put a lot of pressure on myself today – we came here for the victory. I maybe did a stupid attack but I never gave up until the final. It is an incredible day.”
Pogacar said he had not planned to attack so far out from the finish. “Of course not,” he said. “We had planned a controlled race. The race went quite early. I don’t know what I was thinking. Luckily I made it but it was so tough.
“After many years of fighting for Tour de France I never had the World Championship. It was a clear goal. After a perfect season it was a big goal and I can’t believe it happened. I’m super proud.”
Pogacar is the first male rider to complete cycling’s unofficial triple crown since Irishman Stephen Roche in 1987. The legendary Eddy Merckx was the first rider to claim the treble of the Tour, Giro and rainbow jersey in 1974.
Pogacar became the first rider in 26 years to achieve the Giro d’Italia-Tour de France earlier this season and his victory at the World Championships cements the Slovenian’s place as one of the greatest of all time at the age of 26.
