Evenepoel wins third straight ITT, Reusser claims women's world title

KIGALI, Rwanda — Remco Evenepoel of Belgium extended his dominance in the individual time trial on Sunday at the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, claiming a third straight elite men's world time trial title, while Switzerland's Marlen Reusser finally stood atop the podium in the women's elite time trial, organisers and competitors said.

Evenepoel covered the hilly 40.6 kilometre course in 49 minutes 6 seconds, overtaking Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar on the final climb after starting some minutes behind him, a moment that drew gasps from the packed roadside crowds. Australian Jay Vine rounded out the podium in the men's ITT, with Vine praising his team's support after the race. Reusser clocked 43 minutes 9 seconds over the 31.2 kilometre women's course, taking her first world title after several near misses in previous seasons.

The championships, staged in Kigali under the theme "Riding New Heights," marked a historic first for Africa as the elite men's and women's time trials were contested on the continent. Organisers said more than 1,000 people attended the launch, and officials reported participation from 106 countries, including 35 African nations — a record for the...