Tadej Pogacar’s bold racing style once again proved victorious as he claimed the world road race championship in Zurich on Sunday. The Slovenian cyclist executed an audacious attack 100 kilometers from the finish, ultimately finishing solo and 33 seconds ahead of Australian Ben O’Connor.
This victory marks a historic achievement for Pogacar, placing him alongside cycling legends Eddy Merckx and Stephen Roche as the only riders to secure the prestigious “triple crown” by winning the Giro d’Italia, Tour de France, and world road title in the same season.
Pogacar’s remarkable season has seen him cross the finish line first 23 times, demonstrating dominance akin to that of Merckx. He achieved six stage wins in both the Giro and Tour, becoming the first rider since Marco Pantani in 1998 to complete this “double.” His victories also include the classics Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Strade Bianche, and GP Montreal, as well as the Tour of Catalonia.
“I had put a lot of pressure on myself for today,” Pogacar remarked. “While the Tour de France was my primary focus, this year, after a perfect season, the world championship became a clear goal. We had a plan to control the race, but when a dangerous breakaway formed, I made what could have been a foolish attack. Thankfully, Jan [Tratnik] was with me. I went with the flow and luckily made it, but it was tough.”
The race circuit around Zurich featured continuous climbs and descents, limiting the effectiveness of team tactics. Although Pogacar intended to conserve energy for the final 30 kilometers, he sensed urgency when a strong lead group, including Great Britain’s Stephen Williams, gained a three-minute advantage with just under half of the 273.9-kilometer race remaining.
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