How the European champion’s jersey is being overshadowed by rainbows

After winning the European road race championship in Drôme-Ardèche, France, on Sunday with a trademark solo attack, Tadej Pogačar now holds both the rainbow and European jerseys simultaneously, having defended his World title in Rwanda just one week earlier.

The consequence of this achievement is that cycling fans will rarely, if ever, see the distinctive blue and white stars of the European jersey in the men's peloton over the next 12 months, as UCI rules dictate that the rainbow jersey takes precedence over the European jersey and national jerseys.

This situation extends beyond just Pogačar, with Remco Evenepoel achieving the same double in the men's time trial category, while Marlen Reusser has accomplished the feat in the women's time trial.

This marks a stark contrast to the past twelve months, where European champions' jerseys featured prominently. Tim Merlier and Lorena Wiebes enjoyed sensational campaigns in the continental colours, with Merlier claiming a record 17 victories as European Champion on the men’s side while Wiebes demolished the women's record with an extraordinary 27 wins.

The European jersey might only potentially reappear on either Pogačar, Evenepoel or Reusser in the scenario that they lose their world titles at the 2026 World Championships, but before the 2026 European Championships. However, given their current dominance in their respective disciplines, these riders remain favourites to defend their rainbow jerseys in Montreal, Canada, next year, making even this scenario feel unlikely.

Cycling fans will still have one opportunity to see the European champion's jersey in regular action through Demi Vollering, who delivered a demonstration in the elite women’s road race with a solo victory. 

However, even Vollering's European stripes may see limited exposure given her general classification ambitions, as leaders' jerseys in stage races also take precedence over the European champion's design. 

This year has seen an unprecedented number of riders completing the European-World double in the same season in the same discipline. Since the introduction of the elite categories at the European championships in 2016, it had only happened twice previously, with Peter Sagan winning the road race double in 2016, and Anna van der Breggen in 2020 in the time trial. Now it's happened three times in 2025 alone with Pogačar in the road race, and Evenepoel and Reusser in the time trial.

The 2026 edition of the European Road Championships is set to be hosted in Slovenia for the first time, where Pogačar will arrive at the road race as defending champion on home soil.