Slovenian rider Pogacar clinches European road race crown

Tadej Pogacar delivered a trademark 75km breakaway to win the European road race title in France on Sunday, adding the stars jersey to the world title he won a week ago and his fourth Tour de France triumph in July.

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Pogacar was unrelenting in his solo rampage, only slowing to cruise across the line 31sec ahead of Remco Evenepoel, who attempted to push Pogacar all the way, while French teenager Paul Seixas was given a rousing welcome for bronze at 3min 41sec.

With Pogacar’s closest rivals Jonas Vingegaard and Evenepoel also lining up here, large crowds cheered the riders through 202km of narrow, winding roads in the remote Ardeche region, where a familiar scenario unfolded.

Decked out in his world champion’s rainbow jersey, the Slovenian Pogacar broke away from an audacious distance.

But Belgium’s Olympic champion Evenepoel dug in for an admirable long-haul chase.