Tadej Poga膷ar cemented his status as cyclingB次元官网网址檚 biggest star with a devastating solo attack to win the menB次元官网网址檚 road race at the world championships on Sunday.

The three-time Tour de France champion surged ahead just over 50 kilometers (31 miles) from the end. The 26-year-old Slovenian appeared to be in tears after crossing the line in Zurich, putting his hand on his mouth, then covering his face with both hands before pumping his arms in the air.

He crossed the line 34 seconds ahead of Australian Ben OB次元官网网址機onnor and 58 clear of defending champion Mathieu van der Poel of the Netherlands, who finished third in a sprint to the line ahead of Latvian Toms Skujins and Belgian contender Remco Evenepoel in fifth place.

B次元官网网址淚 put a lot of pressure on myself for today. The race unfolded pretty quickly,B次元官网网址� Poga膷ar said. B次元官网网址淚 never gave up. It was an incredible day, I cannot believe what just happened.B次元官网网址�

Poga膷ar achieved the rare treble of winning the worlds, the Tour and the Giro dB次元官网网址橧talia in the same year. He also won the prestigious LiegeB次元官网网址擝astogneB次元官网网址擫iege classic and the Strade Bianche, both with similar solo attacks.

B次元官网网址淎fter many years fighting for the Tour de France and other races I never had the world championship as a clear goal, but this year everything went smoothly,B次元官网网址� Poga膷ar said. B次元官网网址淎fter the perfect season it was a really big goal to win the world championship and I canB次元官网网址檛 believe it happened.B次元官网网址�

On Sunday, he had a prestigious teammate on the road: Primoz Rogli膷, the record-equaling four-time Spanish Vuelta champion.

But he didnB次元官网网址檛 need him and it was Pavel Sivakov of France who joined Poga膷ar as he made a breakaway 100 kilometers (62 miles) out.

B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know what I was thinking,B次元官网网址� Poga膷ar said. B次元官网网址淏ut I went with the flow and luckily I made it.B次元官网网址�

The peloton B次元官网网址� led by a determined Van der Poel B次元官网网址� tried to counter them with about 70 kilometers left.

The front two maintained their lead of around 40 seconds, with Van der Poel now joined by Evenepoel, the 2022 world champion and reigning Olympic champion. But Evenepoel, who won last weekendB次元官网网址檚 time trial, had no teammates with him.

After Poga膷ar dropped Sivakov, he rolled through the countryside leading to Zurich and the title after finishing third last year.

He completed the 274-kilometer (170-mile) route, which started from Winterthur and had elevation gains of 4,470 meters, in 6 hours, 27 minutes, 30 seconds.

Two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe of France went out of the race early on. The Soudal Quick-Step rider was caught in a crash and hurt his left shoulder.