Ganesh Kendale
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogacar produced a stunning solo ride in Switzerland to claim his first world road race title – and become only the third man to win the ‘Triple Crown’ of the men’s Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and world title in the same year.
The 26-year-old caught his rivals napping with 100km of the 273.9km route in Zurich remaining, leaving Belgium’s Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel and reigning world champion Mathieu van der Poel, of the Netherlands, behind in the peloton.
Pogacar quickly bridged a gap to a breakaway group before hitting the front on his own with 50km to go.
He maintained his advantage in the closing kilometres, leaving the field to fight for the minor medals.
Pogacar finished in six hours, 27 minutes and 30 seconds – 34 seconds clear of Australia’s Ben O’Connor, who broke off the front of the chasing pack to claim silver.
Van der Poel finished 58 seconds back in third after winning a sprint finish for bronze, pipping fourth-placed Latvian Toms Skujins, while world time-trial champion Evenepoel was fifth and Swiss rider Marc Hirschi sixth.
Scotland’s Oscar Onley, 21, was the first Briton home in a creditable 16th place.
More to follow.
