Evenepoel and Pogacar ready for Kigali showdown

Evenepoel, fresh from his emphatic victory in last week’s time trial, believes he is in near-peak condition for the gruelling road race. Speaking to Sporza, he said: “Here stands the best Remco of the season, that’s for sure. Whether it’s my best form ever? I’m pretty close. I’m really happy with where I am right now.”

The Belgian is under no illusions about the demands of the course. Mount Kigali, the race’s most punishing ascent, is expected to be the launchpad for decisive attacks. “We need to stay conservative until then. After that it’s about being alert and ready for anything. From there it will explode,” Evenepoel said. 

“With the conditions and the altitude, a lot can happen. Ideally we get over the climb with four riders including myself, but it’s difficult to predict.” He also warned that surprise moves could shape the outcome, pointing to Tom Pidcock and Isaac Del Toro as riders to watch.

Defending champion Pogačar, meanwhile, is approaching the race with equal confidence. The Slovenian has enjoyed solid preparation since his time trial and has embraced the unique atmosphere of Rwanda. “It feels good. It feels the same as last year before the race. I’m really excited and I cannot wait to start,” he told Cycling Pro Net ahead of the start.

Like Evenepoel, Pogačar highlighted the challenge of the Kigali climbs. “I’m really excited, maybe too excited, because they are really hard sections of the race. We have a good plan, but in the Worlds it’s difficult to execute perfectly. There are 165 riders at the start, each with their own strategy,” he explained.

For both riders, Kigali represents a season-defining objective. Evenepoel is chasing a second rainbow jersey in a single week, while Pogačar is aiming to defend the world title he won so spectacularly last year. The scene is set for a showdown between two of the sport’s dominant champions.