The UCI Road World Championships opened in Rwanda, marking the first edition ever staged on African soil. This event launched eight days of thrilling racing, beginning with the individual time trials that captivated cycling fans worldwide.
Men’s and Women’s Time Trial Highlights
Remco Evenepoel claimed the men’s title, completing a rare hat-trick of consecutive world time trial wins. He matched the impressive streaks previously achieved by cycling legends Michael Rogers and Tony Martin. Evenepoel’s dominance was evident on the technical course’s steep cobbled finish. With two kilometers remaining, he overtook Tadej Pogačar, who had started two and a half minutes earlier. Pogačar, arriving off a Tour de France victory on his 27th birthday, finished fourth, missing the podium by just one second. Australia’s Jay Vine took silver, finishing 1 minute 14 seconds behind Evenepoel, while Belgium’s Ilan Van Wilder secured the bronze medal at 2 minutes 36 seconds.
Four riders who shone at the most recent Giro d’Italia placed in the men’s top 10: Vine, Isaac Del Toro in fifth, Luke Plapp in seventh, and Thymen Arensman in ninth. Evenepoel’s time trial pedigree also stretches back to the 2023 Giro, where he briefly wore the maglia rosa and won the Ortona and Cesena tests.
In the women’s event, Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser finally earned the coveted rainbow jersey in the time trial, achieving this milestone one day after turning 34. Her remarkable season already included victory in the opening time trial at the Giro d’Italia Women in Bergamo and a second-place finish overall behind Elisa Longo Borghini. Reusser finished ahead of Dutch stars Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering, showcasing her exceptional talent. The rest of the top 10 featured Brodie Chapman in fourth, Katrine Aalerud in fifth, Antonia Niedermaier in sixth, Juliette Labous in seventh, Anna Henderson in eighth, and Mireia Benito rounding out the top ten in tenth place.
The UCI Road World Championships 2023 in Rwanda has set the stage for an unforgettable cycling experience, highlighting the extraordinary skills and determination of the world’s best cyclists.