Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel delivered a commanding performance on the opening day of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, winning the elite men’s individual time trial (ITT) and leaving rival Tadej Pogačar in his wake.
The 40.6-kilometre course from BK Arena to Kigali Convention Centre tested riders with technical climbs and cobbled sectors, including the notorious Mignonne. Rwanda’s Nsengiyumva Shemu set an early benchmark with a time of 56 minutes and 41 seconds, but the world’s top time trialists were expected to challenge the early pace.
Evenepoel, 25, started last from BK Arena, three minutes after Pogačar. With exceptional climbing strength and technical precision on the cobbles, he overtook the Slovenian and crossed the finish line with a winning margin of two minutes and 37 seconds.
“The first thing I focused on was managing the climbs, keeping my cadence consistent and using my legs efficiently. The opening climbs were tougher than the remaining sections. I rode confidently on the cobbles, it’s not a surface everyone enjoys—but ultimately, victory matters most,” Evenepoel said. “I’m grateful to my team, who are peers and friends; their support helped me reach this goal.”
The Netherlands’ Vine Jay finished second, one minute and 14 seconds behind, while van Wilder Ilan took third, two minutes and 36 seconds adrift.
The Kigali World Championships continue on Monday, 22 September 2025, with under-23 men and women contesting the time trial.
Women’s Elite: Marlen Reusser Claims First World Time Trial Title
Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser finally claimed the rainbow jersey on Sunday, powering to victory in the elite women’s individual time trial at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali. Reusser finished more than 50 seconds ahead of her nearest rival, toppling Dutch favorites Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering.
After several seasons of dominating time trials at national, European, and WorldTour level, the 34-year-old had never previously won the World Championship or Olympic gold in the discipline. Her triumph came despite illness earlier in the season, which forced her to withdraw from the Tour de France Femmes.
“Of course this is super special for me,” Reusser said. “I came into the sport as a super talented time trialist, I won so many time trials, I actually beat many of the riders who were world champions in other races, but never in the World Championships or the Olympic Games. So this was a Knacknuss, we say in German a nut you have to open hard. I’m happy I opened it today.”
The Kigali course, with temperatures topping 28 degrees, required both climbing ability and power, which suited Reusser’s heavier stature. She credited altitude training, heat adaptation, and experience from past years as factors that came together to deliver her victory, while cautioning that no single “recipe” guarantees success.
Reusser has finished on the podium of the World Championships time trial three times before, but Sunday marked her first gold. Overcoming injury, illness, and long Covid, she has built an impressive record in recent years, including victories at the Tour de France Femmes and second-place finishes at both the Vuelta Femenina and Giro d’Italia.
“I’m so happy I won, but I don’t overcharge it, I don’t feel better today because I’m champ. I just won today because no one was better.” she added.
With the rainbow jersey now hers, Reusser stands out as a defining figure of the championships, proving that meticulous preparation can finally deliver on long-held ambitions.
