If you thought the Kigali World Champs were going to be business-as-usual, you clearly haven’t seen how this Rwandan rollercoaster is playing out. The climbs are savage, the altitude is real, and the peloton is learning the hard way that Kigali doesn’t do “easy days.”
Reusser Finally Gets Her Rainbow 🌈
Marlen Reusser didn’t just win the Women’s ITT — she detonated it. The Swiss powerhouse hammered out a 51-second lead over Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering, riding like she had a vendetta against time itself. After years of silver and bronze, she finally pulled on that rainbow jersey. Cue tears, fist pumps, and probably a fondue pot somewhere in Bern.
The Aussies weren’t just spectators either. Brodie Chapman clocked 4th, whispering to the world: don’t forget us when the road race comes knocking.
Remco Is From Another Planet 🚀
Remco Evenepoel. Three ITT rainbow jerseys. Back-to-back-to-back. This guy doesn’t just ride time trials — he bends time itself. He stopped the clock at 49:46, a full 74 seconds ahead of Aussie Jay Vine, who grabbed silver like a man possessed, and Ilan van Wilder in bronze.
Remco even had time to make Pogacar look mortal (he literally caught him on course). If aliens land this weekend, don’t be surprised if they ask for Evenepoel first.
Green & Gold Relay Carnage 🇦🇺💚💛
Australia? Oh, just casually defending their Mixed Relay title. Vine, Matthews, and Plapp smashed out a blistering first half, then Spratt and Chapman held the fort as France and Switzerland threw the kitchen sink at them. Result: back-to-back golds. That’s not luck — that’s depth, culture, and watts measured in kilotons.
Why This Weekend Is Nuclear ☢️
So what does it all mean?
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Evenepoel isn’t just a favourite for the men’s road race, he’s the bogeyman. You don’t beat him, you survive him.
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Jay Vine — silver in the TT, legs of steel, Aussie momentum. Don’t be shocked if he sneaks onto the podium in the road race.
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Jai Hindley — the altitude assassin. Kigali’s steep ramps might be his launchpad if the bunch explodes.
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Reusser now has the aura. With form like this, she could bulldoze the women’s road race unless van der Breggen and Vollering get crafty.
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And let’s not forget the green & gold squad — morale sky-high, legs humming. A little tactical wizardry, and the Aussies could flip this whole thing upside down.
Bottom line: Kigali isn’t dishing out freebies. This weekend is going to be about who can suffer beautifully on the climbs, who can gamble big on the city circuits, and who’s got lungs for altitude. Stock your coffee, set your alarms — the fireworks are coming.