Finn was the youngest starter in the 164.6 kilometre race through Kigali. The rider from the Red Bull - BORA - hansgrohe Rookies thus achieved something that Matej Mohoric last did. The Slovenian won the junior world title in 2012, followed by the U23 title a year later.

Max Bock finished the race in eleventh place as the best German. The 20-year-old, who formed the German quartet at the start with Paul Fietzke, Louis Leidert and Mauro Brenner, was part of the first large chasing group into the finale, which was still racing for sixth place. The first five had broken away from the peloton on the third last of eleven laps and could no longer be caught. The breakaway group then crumbled as the race progressed. Finn then crossed the finish line 31 seconds ahead of Huber, having already celebrated extensively on the last kilometre.

"It was exactly a year ago and just like last time, it was very special," said Finn in the winner's interview, recalling his title from Zurich. "My ears were already hurting on the last 500 metres. So many people from different countries were cheering me on. The people here in Kigali are fantastic, it was a wonderful week, especially because of this result, of course. But it is also an experience that I will remember for the rest of my life."

Finn was one of the favourites for the title alongside Belgian Jarno Widar. Belgium dominated the first half of the race, but then no longer played a role. Widar, also only 19 years old, also finished the race almost twelve minutes behind Finn.

World Championship 2025 - Road Race Men U 23 Results

>> World Cycling Championships 2025 in Kigali: routes & schedule of the World Championships in Rwanda

>> World Cycling Championships 2025: TV broadcast and live stream

>> UCI awards Super Cycling World Championships to Trentino

How the U23 men's world championship road race went in 2025

120 starters from 56 nations tackled the race. However, it took a while for the competition to slowly pick up speed. Belgium easily controlled the field until the middle of the race and there were no serious attacks. With 90 kilometres to go, the Austrian Schrettl and Pietro Mattio from Italy were the first riders to test the legs of the competition, but they left it at this short test.

On the seventh lap, with a good 60 kilometres to go, Belgium picked up the pace again. The ranks had already thinned out considerably. In the finale of this lap, the group fell apart completely. Widar was suddenly on his own after attacks by the Spaniards and the front group had shrunk to barely 15 riders. Germany was no longer represented at this point.

Preliminary decision in the ninth round

It was Héctor Álvarez who completed most of the eighth lap as a soloist. The Spaniard had managed to pull away from the front during the regrouping. Leading from behind Time trial world champion Jakob Söderqvist the first chasers closed in again. Nevertheless, Álvarez was able to break away again together with the Norwegian Halvor Dolven. A group of six had formed at the next finish. Finn, Huber, Schrettl and Mateusz Gajdulewicz (Poland) had caught up and took around 20 seconds on 19 chasers, including Bock and Widar, into the final three laps.

While Dolven lost touch with the leading group, the remaining quintet, led by Finn, extended their lead over the pursuers. At the Cote de Kimihurura, the Italian even pulled away from his companions. Only Huber was able to close the gap. The group around top favourite Widar and Bock was already more than a minute behind the leaders. The final lap started with the same constellation - only with further increased gaps.

At the Cote de Kigali Golf 6.5 kilometres before the finish, Finn said goodbye to his last companion. A little further back, Schrettl also shook off his companions. The two men from the Alps secured second and third place at the finish, fourth place went to al Álvarez ahead of Gajdulewicz, who all crossed the finish line individually.