European Road Championships: Pogacar Solo Win Secures European Road Title
Tadej Pogacar made history with a dominant solo breakaway ride, claiming the European road cycling title in France.
“I saw I was losing teammates, it wasn't the plan to go from there, but it had to be there, it was the hardest hill, and that...”
Tadej Pogacar dominated the European road race championships in France, securing a convincing win just a week after claiming the world title. He launched a trademark 75km solo breakaway, showcasing his exceptional endurance and power.
Pogacar crossed the finish line 31 seconds ahead of Remco Evenepoel, who pushed hard but couldn't match the Slovenian's pace. French teenager Paul Seixas earned a warm reception from the crowd as he took the bronze medal, finishing 3 minutes and 41 seconds behind the winner.
The cycling event unfolded in the remote Ardeche region, where large crowds gathered to watch the riders navigate 202km of narrow, winding roads. Tadej Pogacar, clad in his world champion's rainbow jersey, made a bold move by breaking away from a distance, putting his closest rivals to the test.
Pogacar's audacious attack was met with determination from Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, who dug deep to chase down the Slovenian. Evenepoel's efforts were admirable, but Pogacar's pace proved too strong, echoing their recent encounters, including the European Championships where Pogacar outpaced Evenepoel.
Recent Performance Highlights:
Tadej Pogacar: Dominant performance in the European Championships, outpacing Evenepoel and showcasing his exceptional strength.
Remco Evenepoel: Impressive time trial skills, winning Stage 5 of the Tour de France with a commanding performance, and moving into second place overall.
Jonas Vingegaard struggled to keep up with the pace and was dropped halfway through the grueling European Championships road race. A collective effort from the Belgian team thinned out the field, leaving around a dozen riders in contention. Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar's Slovenian team was caught off guard as Pogacar found himself isolated.
Pogacar seized the opportunity, launching a 75km solo breakaway that would prove decisive. “I saw I was losing teammates, it wasn't the plan to go from there, but it had to be there, it was the hardest hill, and that was my advantage there,” he explained after the race. As Pogacar opened up a one-minute lead, Remco Evenepoel teamed up with 19-year-old French rider Paul Seixas, Spain's Juan Ayuso, and Italy's Christian Scaroni to chase him down. Despite their efforts, Pogacar's advantage remained insurmountable, securing his European title with a solo victory.
Tadej Pogacar dominated the European road race championships, pulling away from Remco Evenepoel with a powerful solo breakaway. Pogacar signed a massive six-year contract with Team UAE last November, reportedly worth $54 million. Evenepoel chased hard but couldn't catch the Slovenian superstar.
“Second place again,” Evenepoel said after finishing second to Pogacar, echoing his sentiments from the world title race in Kigali last Sunday. Despite his best efforts, Evenepoel couldn't bridge the gap to Pogacar, who crossed the finish line 31 seconds ahead. This marks another impressive win for Pogacar, who also took the world title last week.
Key Finishing Positions:
Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia): Winner of the European road race championships
Remco Evenepoel (Belgium): Finished second, 31 seconds behind Pogacar
Paul Seixas (France): Took the bronze medal, finishing 3 minutes and 41 seconds behind Pogacar
Pogacar's victory was a testament to his exceptional strength and endurance. Evenepoel's second-place finish demonstrates his own impressive skills, and he'll likely be looking to bounce back in future competitions.
“It's always the same at the championships, the others didn't want to work with me,” he said.
“It's a bit frustrating, but they had their team orders, you have to accept it.”
Remco Evenepoel has had an incredible year, winning the European time trial, the world championship time trial, and capping off 2024 with the road and time trial titles at the Paris Olympic Games. Despite finishing second to Tadej Pogacar in the European road race, Evenepoel's consistency and skill have been on full display.
A champion on and off the bike 💛
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 5, 2025
Even on his way to victory, Tadej Pogacar finds time to make a fan’s day 👏 pic.twitter.com/6GclNXzWZ9
In the battle for third place, Paul Seixas emerged victorious, edging out Christian Scaroni. The French teenager received tremendous support from the crowd as he outsprinted the determined Italian. France team coach Thomas Voeckler was overjoyed with Seixas's bronze medal, a testament to the young rider's talent and potential.
“There's a lot of noise around him, and it's understandable. What he just did was massive. Let him develop, and we'll see how far he goes,” he said of Seixas.
Seixas's Bronze Medal:
- Paul Seixas (France): Took the bronze medal, finishing 3 minutes and 41 seconds behind Pogacar
- Christian Scaroni (Italy): Finished just behind Seixas in fourth place
- Thomas Voeckler (France team coach): Expressed delight with Seixas's performance, highlighting his potential for future competitions.
Paul Seixas, the youngest rider in the field, impressed by finishing third in the European road race championships. Just a week ago, he had finished 13th at the world championships in Kigali. Seixas's bronze medal is a promising start to his career.
One week, two crowns 👑
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) October 5, 2025
Europe and the worlds belong to Tadej Pogacar 🇪🇺🌈🫡 pic.twitter.com/C6AyRdeczJ
In the women's road race, Demi Vollering dominated the competition, soloing to victory on Saturday. The Dutch rider produced a series of irresistible attacks, leaving the rest of the field behind. Vollering's win showcases her exceptional strength and tactical prowess.
Key Finishing Positions:- Tadej Pogacar (Slovenia): Finished in 4:59:29
- Remco Evenepoel (Belgium): +31 seconds
- Paul Seixas (France): +3:41 minutes
This victory marks another milestone in Pogacar's illustrious career, adding to his impressive collection of titles, including four Tour de France wins.
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