Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogačar etched his name in cycling history by winning the World Road Cycling Championships in Zürich after a daring 100-kilometre solo breakaway.
The 26-year-old became only the third rider to achieve the prestigious Triple Crown, joining the legendary ranks of Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche, who last completed the feat in 1987.
The victory caps an extraordinary season for Pogačar, who added the World Championship to his illustrious palmarès, which already includes victories in both the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. In doing so, he followed in the footsteps of Merckx (1974) and Roche (1987), securing a rare place in cycling’s history books.
After his triumphant ride, Pogačar reflected on the weight of expectation he carried into the event. “I can’t believe what just happened,” he said in a post-race interview.
“After this season, I put a lot of pressure on myself for today’s race. I had personal pressure but also from my team, as we came here for the victory.”
An Aggressive and Decisive Attack
In his trademark style, Pogačar controlled the race and launched an audacious attack 100 kilometres from the finish line.
He made his move shortly after reeling in the day’s breakaway group, attacking solo on the undulating Swiss roads and refusing to relent for the remainder of the race.
“Everything unfolded very quickly. I might have tried a foolish attack, but I never stopped believing until the finish line,” Pogačar explained. “Our plan was to control the race, but I don’t know what came over me. I went for it; it wasn’t easy, but I made it.”
Pogačar’s bold move caught his rivals off guard, and while the chasing group attempted to close the gap, the Slovenian’s relentless pace kept them at bay.
His flawless strategy and sheer determination made it impossible for anyone to challenge his lead in the final kilometres.
Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel Struggles to Keep Pace
Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, who just a week earlier won the men’s World Championship time trial, found himself unable to keep up with Pogačar’s fierce pace.
Despite being part of the chasing group, Evenepoel faltered in the final stretch, unable to hold his position as Pogačar powered ahead to victory.
Evenepoel’s time trial win had placed him among the favourites for the road race title, but Pogačar’s dominant performance overshadowed any chance for the Belgian star to make a significant challenge.
The Slovenian’s victory proved to be a decisive moment, leaving Evenepoel and other rivals in his wake.
Pogačar’s Season Culminates in Victory
Pogačar’s win is the crowning achievement of a stellar season, which has seen him dominate in multiple disciplines across the cycling world.
His triumph in Zürich was particularly sweet, as it marked his first-ever World Championship title in the road race category, something he had been eyeing for years.
“After many years of fighting for the Tour de France and other races, I had never won this championship race. It was clearly my goal for the year. After a perfect season, it’s incredible to claim this title. I still can’t believe it,” Pogačar said.
With his victory in Zürich, Tadej Pogačar’s place among cycling’s all-time greats is now firmly secured, cementing his reputation as one of the sport’s most versatile and relentless talents.
