Introduction to Tadej Pogacar and His Achievements
Tadej Pogacar, a 27-year-old cyclist from Slovenia, has solidified his position as one of the greatest cyclists in history by retaining the gold medal at the 2025 World Cycling Road Championships in Rwanda. This victory marks his second triumph in the elite road race, following his win at the 2024 Worlds in Switzerland.
The UCI World Cycling Road Championships
Organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the World Cycling Road Championships have been held since 1921. The event features two elite races for both men and women: the road race, the original, and the time trial.
Unlike regular season races where cyclists represent their teams, at the World Championships, they compete for their home countries.
Pogacar’s Impressive Season and Team Success
In 2025, Pogacar’s team, UAE Team Emirates, set a new record for the most race victories in a single season by any organization. Pogacar himself contributed 16 wins to this achievement, including his fourth Tour de France title.
Pogacar’s Magnified Expectations at the 2025 Worlds
With his Tour de France success, Pogacar’s expectations for the 2025 Worlds were heightened. He aimed to defend his maillot (jersey) and become the first cyclist to win both the Tour de France and the World Road Race in consecutive years.
Pogacar’s Victory and Teammates’ Performance
On September 28, Pogacar triumphed in the men’s elite road race, securing his place in cycling history as the first rider to win both the Tour de France and the World Road Race in consecutive years.
Slovenia fielded nine cyclists in the men’s elite road race, with Pogacar being the star attraction. His teammates included Primoz Roglic, who also had strong performances.
Pogacar’s main rivals were expected to be his UAE Team Emirates teammates, Spanish cyclist Juan Ayuso and Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro. However, both faced challenges during the race.
Pogacar’s Career and Future Aspirations
Since joining UAE Team Emirates in 2019, Pogacar has amassed 105 victories, with the latest coming from the 2025 Worlds in Rwanda. This places him at position 24 among the most victorious cyclists in professional history, with Belgian Eddy Merckx leading the pack at 279 wins.
At under 30 years old, Pogacar aims to add more victories to his tally. Notable targets include winning the Giro d’Italia (2024), securing his fifth Tour de France title, and defending his World Road Race title in 2026.
Three-time World Road Race Gold Medal Winners
Only five cyclists have won the elite men’s road race three times: Italian Alfredo Binda, Spanish Óscar Freire, Slovene Peter Sagan, and Belgians Rik Van Steenbergen and Eddy Merckx. Pogacar seeks to join this exclusive group in the 2026 World Championships in Canada.
All Champions of the 2025 World Cycling Road Championships in Rwanda
- Men’s Elite Road Race: Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia)
- Women’s Elite Road Race: Magdeleine Vallieres (Canada)
- Men’s Elite Time Trial: Remco Evenepoel (Belgium)
- Women’s Elite Time Trial: Marlen Reusser (Switzerland)
- Mixed Team Time Trial: Australia
- Men’s Under-23 Road Race: Lorenzo Finn (Italy)
- Women’s Under-23 Road Race: Celia Gery (France)
- Men’s Under-23 Time Trial: Jakob Soderqvist (Sweden)
- Women’s Under-23 Time Trial: Zoe Backstedt (Great Britain)
- Men’s Junior Road Race: Harry Hudson (Great Britain)
- Women’s Junior Road Race: Paula Ostiz (Spain)
- Men’s Junior Time Trial: Michiel Mouris (Netherlands)
- Women’s Junior Time Trial: Megan Arens (Netherlands)
