Remco Evenpoel caught Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar on the way to his third time trial World Championship in a row with a blisteringly dominant ride in Kigali
The Belgian had an advantage of 1.23 over his closest challenger Jay Vine of Australia entering the final section of the course and looked comfortable on the way to victory.
Pogačar finished just off the podium a further eight seconds back.
How it happened
Like the women’s race earlier in the day it was a home hero that led the riders off and Shemu Nsengiyumva, the Rwandan time trial national champion, dutifully set the first benchmark at 56.41.
It was Belgian Florian Vermeersch who would eventually take the top spot from him. The classics specialist who has been on the podium of Paris-Roubaix wasn’t troubled by the cobbles of the final climb and finished in 56.41, nearly two minutes faster than the Rwandan.
The home rider was left clinging onto a podium place when Artem Nych knocked him down to third with a time 34 seconds off the Vermeersch’s. Out on the course at that time Ilan Van Wilder was shaping up to knock his compatriot off the top spot with the fastest time through the third checkpoint over a minute and a half up on Vermeersch.
Van Wilder, who rides for Soudal Quick-Step during the rest of the season, would go on to duly take the hot seat with a 52.22 but not before Canadian Michael Leonard, who had been second at the third checkpoint, took over the top spot for a few minutes.
As the Belgian crossed the line Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar rolled down the start ramp across town, the penultimate rider to start being chased by reigning world and Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel in search of his third title in a row.
As the flurry of fast times picked up as the better riders began to finish Grenada’s sole rider Red Walters, who may well be familiar to fans of the UK scene where he lives and races, was pushed out of the top ten. He would finish the day in 32nd place.
Back down the road Remco Evenepoel was busy setting the fastest time at the first checkpoint, going 44 seconds faster than Isaac del Toro of Mexico and another second still faster than Pogačar. The Belgian was going at such a rate that if he continued to keep that pace he would catch the Tour champion before the finish despite them starting two and half minutes apart.
At the finish Andreas Leknessund of Norway and Luke Plapp of Australia had both bettered Leonard, though not Van Wilder to take up the second and third spot respectively.
Through the second time check Evenepoel’s lead was beginning to look unassailable 1.43 faster than the Van Wilder and even 1.17 faster than next best rider at that point Jay Vine of Australia.
Vine, who was rock solid and expressionless in the saddle, was putting in strong ride and went second fastest through the third time check looking good for the silver medal.
Meanwhile, Del Torro came close to knocking Van Wilder off the top spot just four seconds off.
Evenepoel eventually overhauled Pogačar on the final cobbled climb of Côte de Kimihurura as the Slovenian faded and dropped out of the medal positions.
The Belgian crossed the line and gave a salute, another rainbow jersey in the bag.
