Evenepoel wins third consecutive time trial world title

At the Road World Cycling Championships in Rwanda, Remco Evenepoel won his third consecutive individual time trial world title.

The Belgian, 25, maintained his rainbow jersey by passing the line in Kigali, which was a remarkably dominant display in the country’s capital.

Evenepoel and Ilan van Wilder finished in third place, two minutes 36.07 seconds behind, with Australia’s Jay Vine finishing in one minute 14.80 seconds.

Evenepoel told BBC Sport, “It felt pretty good right away on the first flat part.” The first climb, along with the last two, was actually quite difficult, and I was able to maintain my pace without exceeding the limit.

After I tried to keep a pace I could hold, I really pushed it there.

“I detested the cobbles,” he said. I had to work so hard to get past them, but I ultimately prevailed, which is what counts most.

It was a fantastic day for us because Ilan [van Wilder] came third, according to my team-mate.

Evenepoel, who won gold in the time trial and road race at the Paris Games last summer, was the favorite going into the race, and he lost after such a strong first climb.

Even though he had started a few minutes after Tadej Pogacar, Slovenia’s Tour de France winner, his pace was so fast that he was on the course without even starting.

Due to the steep ascents and high altitude, the championships, which are being held in Africa for the first time, have been deemed to be the most challenging ever.

However, Anna Henderson, a silver medalist from the Olympics, was the only British competitor in the women’s time trial, finishing eighth overall.

Marlen Reusser, Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser, who won her first rainbow jersey at the world championship, came in one minute 37.72 seconds after Henderson, 26.

Reusser told BBC Sport, “I almost can’t believe it. Although I’ve tried so many times and it didn’t work out, I’ve now made it, despite the fact that it actually happened and is.

“I went really hard on the climbs, and I think I did it too hard in the beginning, which made me feel lacy, but I think it was the best way to pace it.”

Demi Vollering, a Dutch national, came in third place with a time of 51.89 seconds, while Anna van der Breggen of the Netherlands came in second place with a time of 1: 04.73.

The riders had the most trouble with the steep cobbled climb of Cote de Kimihurura in the final stage, which included 460m of climbing over a distance of 31.2km.