UCI Cycling World Championships 2024: Tadej Pogačar wins men’s road race title for cycling’s triple crown - results
The brilliant Slovenian launched a long-range attack to obliterate the field to win his maiden world title on Sunday (29 September). Ben O'Connor and Mathieu van der Poel finished second and third respectively.
Cycling Road
Slovenian sensation Tadej Pogačar lived up to his favourites tag to clinch the men’s road race title at the 2024 UCI Cycling World Championships in Zürich, Switzerland on Sunday (29 September).
Pogačar capped a sensational season by becoming only the third person behind Eddy Merckx (1974) and Stephen Roche (1987) to complete the ‘triple crown’ winning the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and world titles.
The 26-year-old Pogačar crossed the line in a time of six hours, 27 minutes, and 30 seconds (6:27:30) after launching a long-range attack with 100km to go in the 273.9km race adding to his bronze medal from last year’s championships.
Ben O'Connor of Australia crossed the line in second place, 34 seconds behind Pogačar with defending champion Mathieu van der Poel claiming bronze.
Much of the talk heading into the race revolved around Pogačar and Belgian ace Remco Evenepoel’s history-making bids in the battle for the world road race title.
Evenepoel lined up having successfully defended his world time trial crown a week ago and was looking for an unprecedented double-double. The Belgian rider would have been bullish about his chances after his road cycling double gold from Paris 2024.
The race took shape over the final four 26.8km laps with multiple attacks ebbing in and out of the peloton.
Pogačar caught the peloton off guard launching his attack with 100km to go with only Italy’s Andrea Bagioli following the Slovenian superstar.
The three-time Tour de France champion still had a breakaway of 16 riders in front of him, and he reeled them in with each pedal stroke. Pogačar distanced Bagioli in his shadow before compatriot Jan Tratnik dropped back from the break to provide support.
The duo caught up with the breakaway with 89km to go as they worked together to create more distance from the chasing peloton.
With three laps of racing remaining, the lead pack held a precarious 35-second advantage over the peloton, with the Belgian team leading the chase.
Pogačar launched another attack with 78km to go splitting the lead group with only France's Pavel Sivakov able to stay on his wheel.
The Slovenian reluctantly moved to the front of the race where he had to navigate the headwinds with Sivakov tucking in behind him with the duo leading the chasers by 50 seconds.
Behind them, riders made turns launching mini attacks which ultimately chiselled away at the peloton but were of little threat to Pogačar.
The trio of Oscar Onley, Toms Skujins, and Ben Healy peeled off from the peloton to erase Pogačar’s lead.
Pogacar: "I maybe did a stupid attack"
With 51.5km to go, Pogačar put the needle down again dropping Sivakov for what would be a solo effort en route to his maiden world title.
By this time the chase had splintered with Skujins and Healy riding together and Van der Poel shortly on their heels.
At the bell, Pogačar held a one-minute lead over Skujins and Healy and nearly a minute-and-a-half over the third chasing pack.
The final 20km turned into a frenetic chase with only a minute separating Pogačar from all the chasers with seven riders made up of Healy, Skujins, Evenepoel, O’Connor, Marc Hirschi, and Enric Mas Nicolau, and defending champion Mathieu van der Poel coming together.
The chasers reduced the Slovenian’s advantage to less than 40 seconds as Pogačar looked like he was taking strain.
But Pogačar consolidated his lead in the downhill following the last big climb, leaving the chasers to jockey for positions as he entered the final 10 kilometres of the race.
With a kilometre to go Pogačar had the title all but sealed and as he entered the final stretch he shook his head in disbelief before throwing his arms up in victory.
Behind him, O'Connor’s attack paid dividends as he claimed a comfortable second place with Van der Poel winning a chase to the line for the bronze.
“I cannot believe what just happened. I put a lot of pressure on myself for today and we came here for the victory,” Pogačar said.
“The race unfolded pretty quickly. There was a dangerous breakaway in front, and I maybe did a stupid attack, but I never gave up until the end. It is an incredible day. I don’t know what I was thinking but luckily I made it.”
Results – UCI Road World Championships 2024 – Men's Elite Road Race
- Tadej Pogačar (SLO) 6:27.30
- Ben O'Connor (AUS) +34
- Mathieu van der Poel (NED) +58
- Toms Skujins (LAT) +58
- Remco Evenepoel (BEL) +58
- Marc Hirchi (SUI) +58
- Ben Healy (IRL) +1:00
- Enric Mas Nicolau (ESP) +1:01
- Quinn Simmons (USA) +2:18
- Romain Bardet (FRA) +2:18