Cycling star Pogačar wins men's road race at world championships with brilliant solo attack

ZURICH (AP) — Tadej Pogačar cemented his status as cycling's biggest star with a devastating solo attack to win the men's 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 O'Connor 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.

“I put a lot of pressure on myself for today. The race unfolded pretty quickly," Pogačar said. "I never gave up. It was an incredible day, I cannot believe what just happened.”

Pogačar achieved the rare treble of winning the worlds, the Tour and the Giro d'Italia in the same year. He also won the prestigious Liège–Bastogne–Liège classic and the Strade Bianche, both with similar solo attacks.

“After 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,” Pogačar said. "After the perfect season it was a really big goal to win the world championship and I can’t believe it happened.”

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

But he didn't need him and it was Pavel Sivakov of France who joined Pogačar as he made a breakaway 100 kilometers (62 miles) out.

“I don’t know what I was thinking,” Pogačar said. "But I went with the flow and luckily I made it.”

The peloton — led by a determined Van der Poel — 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 weekend's time trial, had no teammates with him.

After Pogačar 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.

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Netherlands' Mathieu van der Poel rides during the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Zac Williams/SWpix.com/Pool Photo via AP)

Belgium's Remco Evenepoel attacks during the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Zac Williams/SWpix.com/Pool Photo via AP)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar reacts before crossing the finish line to win the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Julian Alaphilippe of France is loaded into the ambulance after a crash during the Men Elite Road Race at the 2024 UCI Road and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Effretikon, Switzerland Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Til Buergy/Keystone via AP)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar attacks during the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Zac Williams/SWpix.com/Pool Photo via AP)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar attacks during the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar attacks during the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar kisses his girlfriend Urska Zigar after winning the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (Michael Buholzer/Keystone via AP)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar crosses the finish line to win the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar crosses the finish line to win the Men Elite road race of the Cycling and Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich, Switzerland, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love is returning on Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings after missing two games with a knee injury.

The Packers didn’t list Love among their inactive players for Sunday’s game after he practiced on a limited basis for a second straight week. Love has been out since injuring his left medial collateral ligament during the final series of a season-opening 34-29 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles on Sept. 6 in Brazil.

Love arrived at Lambeau Field wearing a Brett Favre No. 4 Packers jersey. Favre, who spent most of his Hall of Fame career with the Packers but spent his final two seasons with the Vikings, announced Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Favre made the disclosure as part of his testimony to a congressional committee about a welfare misspending scandal in Mississippi.

With Love unavailable the past two weeks, Malik Willis has led the Packers to victories over the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. Willis went a combined 25 of 33 for 324 yards with two touchdown passes and no interceptions in those two games. He also rushed for 114 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries.

The injury-related news for the Packers (2-1) wasn’t entirely positive heading into their NFC North matchup with the Vikings (3-0).

Two-time Pro Bowl cornerback Jaire Alexander won’t play as he deals with quadriceps and groin issues that prevented him from practicing Friday. The Packers also will be missing cornerback Carrington Valentine for a second straight game because of an ankle issue.

That leaves Green Bay’s secondary at far less than full strength as the Packers try to contain a Minnesota receiving group that features 2022 All-Pro Justin Jefferson as well as Jordan Addison, who is available Sunday after missing two games with an ankle injury.

The Packers' other inactive players are safety Kitan Oladapo, defensive lineman Brenton Cox Jr., offensive lineman Jordan Morgan, offensive tackle Travis Glover and defensive lineman Colby Wooden.

Inactive players for the Vikings are linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., cornerback Fabian Moreau, wide receiver Trishton Jackson, quarterback Brett Rypien, cornerback Dwight McGlothern, defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez and offensive tackle Walter Rouse.

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) passes against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first half of an NFL football game, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at the Neo Quimica Arena in Sao Paulo. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Green Bay Packers' Jordan Love watches before an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)