UCI Road World Championships 2025 Elite Men's road race AS IT HAPPENED - Tadej Pogacar serves up another 100km solo attack to retain rainbow jersey

The last of them being Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier of Eritrea at 7'16. He is the only African finisher.

He's much happier with that, saluting the spectators. Like a grown-up. The first Irishman on the worlds podium since Sean Kelly in 1989.

He should be satisfied with that, but with a few shakes of the head he seems to be wondering what might have been. Expressionless as he stops his head unit.

100km solo. Again. He has time to celebrate, glance behind, and take in the crowds. Tufts are out as the best rider in the world crosses the line.

Pogacar is about to become the first man to win both the Tour and the Worlds in back-to-back seasons. Silver for Remco, which he can't complain about, really. Even though he probably will.

And all three medals have been decided before they get there.

Lights out. I think that's that.

And all smiles in the Slovenian team car. By the way, if you can't get enough of Pogacar, my friend Andy McGrath, Sports book of the Year winner in 2017, has a biography of him out in November. I'm sure it's available to pre-order from the usual places.

Not for the first time. She looked pretty strong yesterday herself, finishing 23rd.

Healy and Skjelmose a further 25 seconds back. I'm backing Ireland to get a medal here. This has been over for a while, hasn't it?

He glides up the Cote de Kimihurura like he's on a Penge CC club run. Remco reaches the same point a minute later. They're at least sharing the same slope.

He's clearly the strongest out of the three, so it makes sense. It's too late for gold, but it should cement silver for him.

Sprays his face with water, stretches out his back. Robbie McEwen calls him a greyhound. "You are the best" calls out someone from the side of the road, and he says thank you by tossing a bison in their direction.

The official gap on the line is 1'19. And there are now just 32 riders still on their bikes.

And although his gap isn't extending, it's not coming down either. And we're well within mortal solo ride range.

So that's my betting slip ripped up.

Which rather answers the cooperation question. One of these three is going to miss out on a medal. At least.

And increasingly it looks like the riders behind are racing for the podium. A friend has just asked at what point do they settle for silver? I hope not yet.