World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28

[Pantani_lives]

That was another massive performance by the best rider of the current century. He's the first to win the double Tour-WC two years in a row. We're getting so used to it that we'd almost forget how exceptional this is. He had the guts to attack on the climb that suited him best, and kept going until the end.

Evenepoel was very strong in the local laps, but couldn't follow on Mount Kigali. After that there was some hope left when the Australians and the Italians started working, but the group got smaller and smaller and everybody was exhausted.

For Healy and Skjelmose I regret that they can't win a major race. They're really strong and have a fighting spirit, but in an era dominated by a few riders it's next to impossible for the other riders to win a monument or a world title.

The WC in Kigali was a historic event with the strongest riders on the podium. This was clearly the toughest road race of the century. The gaps were bigger in one day than in the Vuelta after three weeks. It was a unique experience to see the enthusiasm of the African crowd and the beautiful environment. This race won't be forgotten.

 

[Sciatic]

Say-chas (ch like chewing)

One of the hardest things about pronouncing some French names (of people), at least for English speakers, is the often un-accented 1st syllable.

 

[hayneplane]

I always think the important thing with WCs is the balance.

Should - even 10 years - be at least:

1x ardennesish
1x flattish
1x flandrianish (but ofc more E3 than Ronde/Roubaix!)
1x mid-mountainy

2018 (mid-moutain) was the last time that the course was not basically between an easy and a hard Ardennes classic...

2016 was the last time a sprinter had a chance to win...

and of course 2026 will also be not dissimilar to the 2019-2025 courses "stylistically".

If you are a sprinter who is not van Aert, Pedersen, Matthews the last chance you had to win a Worlds was 2016.

If you are a climber who is not "punchy" the last chance you had to win was 2018.

Now, ofc the worlds will always be more towards a hilly course... and that is great, it is some of my favourite parcours... BUT maybe have some variation of a hilly course in 6-7/10 years and mix it up the other 3-4.

Why ofc closer to E3 than RVV/Roubaix?

 

[Peyroteo94]

I agree in general – Leuven was harder than a standard Flanders course, but easier than an Amstel, but I think Yorkshire was a good well-balanced race, and you had people like Kristoff in the second group in 2022. 2023 I loved because it was a unique race.

2018, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 are all very climber friendly. I think 6/10 for climbers is too much, but I suppose before that we only had one climber friendly route between 2010-2017 so in the long run it balances?

2024 was for puncheurs IMO. Nowadays, Pogacar is a favorite to win any type of race except flat classics.

 

[Didinho]

Pogi just lucky that De Lie wasn’t riding here.

 

[Penninepeddler]

Why ofc closer to E3 than RVV/Roubaix?

Because I think the "ethos" of the worlds in general is historically/should be slightly less specialised than the most specialised terrains.

This was the "hardest" Ardenny type course in history and harder than LBL really. I am fine with that every now and again, lets say once every 5 years or so you have a Kigali or an Innsbruck or a Qatar, kind of an "extreme" in terms of 1-day races and who it favours.

But in general it is nice when you have a course that can be won on in multiple ways by multiple rider "types" And hence E3-ish instead of a cobbled monument. A lot of guys can/have won E3 who have no chance at Flanders/Roubaix, and is more open as a result (even if less so these days with van Aert and VdP being incredible on such terrain).

 

[Sciatic]

Favourite rider about to win his 2nd world championships and this thread seems to be filled with Pogacar fans still searching for reasons to get upset about something. I don't understand it.

Reminds me of that John Cleese skit about how wonderful it feels to be an extremist because you one can always have enemies--so that everything that is bad in the world is on them and all the good in the world is with you.

 

[Sciatic]

I was here until the end of the TT. This tell more about some other "cycling fans".

I don't think he was referring to you though.

 

[yaco]

All the women's races were excellent

Actually the women's elite race was a snoozefest. They needed to do the Mt Kigali circuit to spice up the race and you would have a different winner.

 

[hayneplane]

Because I think the "ethos" of the worlds in general is historically/should be slightly less specialised than the most specialised terrains.

This was the "hardest" Ardenny type course in history and harder than LBL really. I am fine with that every now and again, lets say once every 5 years or so you have a Kigali or an Innsbruck or a Qatar, kind of an "extreme" in terms of 1-day races and who it favours.

But in general it is nice when you have a course that can be won on in multiple ways by multiple rider "types" And hence E3-ish instead of a cobbled monument. A lot of guys can/have won E3 who have no chance at Flanders/Roubaix, and is more open as a result (even if less so these days with van Aert and VdP being incredible on such terrain).

That same ‘ethos’ is what led to a comparatively sub elite (in terms of all time great tier) rider in Valverde being a medal contender nearly the entirety of his career.

 

[tobydawq]

You could say it's like they come from a different planet

Yet they don't.

 

[tobydawq]

That same ‘ethos’ is what led to a comparatively sub elite rider in Valverde being a medal contender nearly the entirety of his career.

Reported.

 

[Peyroteo94]

Fantastic Worlds! Rwanda delivered big time. I received a slap on my face with this people in Rwanda. I was expecting much more chaos, bad behaviours from fans but no, no one was on the road, too close from riders, massive crowds, many happy fans, music, smiles, great landscapes! I enjoyed and expect Worlds come here sooner than later!

 

[Cycling111]

OMG Now I see that Christen finished 29th out of 30. Christen was fourth with four laps to go.

The shockwaves of his explosion must have been felt in Switzerland.

 

[Barkintheeye]

Fantastic Worlds! Rwanda delivered big time. I received a slap on my face with this people in Rwanda. I was expecting much more chaos, bad behaviours from fans but no, no one was on the road, too close from riders, massive crowds, many happy fans, music, smiles, great landscapes! I enjoyed and expect Worlds come here sooner than later!

Rwanda, the crowds, the fans, the atmosphere was absolutely a 10. Great to see and good for the sport.

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

OMG Now I see that Christen finished 29th out of 30. Christen was fourth with four laps to go.

The shockwaves of his explosion must have been felt in Switzerland.

6th, possibly, certainly not anywhere near Evenepoel/Healy/Skjelmose

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

First Irish medal since Roche completed the hattrick incoming.

Kelly got a bronze a couple of years after Roche's win.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

Kelly got a bronze a couple of years after Roche's win.

Hence why I deleted that post a minute after posting, does it not show as deleted if you're a moderator?

 

[Armchair Cyclist]

Hence why I deleted that post a minute after posting, does it not show as deleted if you're a moderator?

Ooops. It does show as deleted, but I can still peek at it. And having peeked, I'd forgotten that I was peeking rather than reading what everyone can. Sorry.

 

[AlfaLum]

Interesting. Because he has a bit of a fit during a race, his explanations when asked direct questions in post-race interviews about what happened...are "excuses". But for others it's fine.

Makes sense.

Well I am not the one saying he is making excuses. But the tantrums he has now and then just have an impact on public opinion.

 

[Andy262]

Couldn’t agree more with those congratulating the Rwandan organisers and people. They were tremendous. Total respect for the event and the riders.

Pogi wins until the chasers are prepared to bury themselves working together to keep up. And then he probably still wins anyway. Best rider of my lifetime. I’m too young to remember Merckx but he’s the only comparison.

 

[awavey]

It sounds like the result should possibly be asterisked due to multiple riders having sore butts, either from diarrhea or from riding on the wrong saddles.

It's lucky they provided all those portable loos then

 

[hayneplane]

OMG Now I see that Christen finished 29th out of 30. Christen was fourth with four laps to go.

The shockwaves of his explosion must have been felt in Switzerland.

Not even close. He attacked but that was out of the Roglic group when there was still 5 riders ahead chasing Pogacar so at best he was 7th on the road briefly.

 

[Andre]

I can't understand how Tadej was able to stay in front of Remco for so long.

 

[Danskebjerge]

A rider like Charmig could have increased his number of UCI points by 10 percent just by completing the race. I wonder why he and many other riders gave up on that?