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As it happened: Defending champion makes history at Road World Championships 2026 elite men’s individual time trial
Road World Championships: Record-breaking Remco Evenepoel makes it four in a row with blistering time trial performance in Montreal
Start times for Road World Championships elite men’s and women’s time trial
Racing defensively not an option for bullish Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert in World Championships road race, but it’s up to Seixas and France ‘to make it a long and tough race’
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Kirsten Frattini
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Time trial champion and 2022 rainbow jersey winner looks to make history by doing the double on Sunday in Montreal
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Racing defensively in the elite men’s road race would be unforgivable in the eyes of Remco Evenepoel, who lines up as part of Belgium’s two-pronged approach alongside Wout van Aert, both aiming for the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on Sunday.
“What mistake will I find hard to forgive myself for if I didn’t become world champion on Sunday? That I raced defensively,” Remco Evenepoel told Sporza in a press conference held at their national team’s residence at the Hôtel Mortagne on Friday evening.
Evenepoel and Van Aert are just two of several favourites heading into the elite men’s 273.7km that includes 3,800m of elevation gain across 12 laps of the Mount Royal circuit and the Camillien-Houde climb (2.3km at 6.2%).
Only the strongest riders will survive this race of attrition, with noted rivals including Paul Seixas (France), Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) and Isaac del Toro (Mexico), who won on this circuit just two weeks ago at the Grand Prix de Montreal.
Evenepoel secured his fourth elite time trial world title last weekend and arrived in Montreal having taken victories at the Clasica San Sebastian and Grand Prix de Quebec; he was also second overall at the Tour de France this year behind five-time winner Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia).
Pogačar will not line up to defend his world title won in Kigali last year, after crashing heavily at the Vuelta a España, and Evenepoel doesn’t believe that it is Belgium’s responsibility to make the race difficult.
“It is not up to us to do that. Wout van Aert and I are two finishers. Someone like Paul Seixas has to come in alone. Everyone knows that. So the French will have to make it a long and tough race,” he said in a Sporza interview. “I don’t need to be afraid to go to the finish with a group.”
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Even so, Evenepoel said that racing defensively would be his biggest regret.
He last won the elite men’s road race world title in 2022 in Wollongong, while Van Aert’s long list of accomplishments has yet to yield a rainbow jersey on the road.
Van Aert comes into this weekend as a favourite after a successful Vuelta a España, where he won two stages, posted eight top-10s, and took the points classification jersey.
His biggest win this year, and one of the most memorable, came at Paris-Roubaix, where he hoisted the cobblestone trophy above his head for the first time in his career.
A rainbow jersey to match would be a fitting ending to a season of firsts for Van Aert.
He reminded the press that he finished second at the Grand Prix de Montreal in 2022 and will understand the circuit’s demands. “I don’t need to convince anyone, except myself, that this course suits me,” he told Sporza.
Subscribe to Cyclingnews for comprehensive race coverage of both the UCI Road and Gravel World Championships, alongside the final monument of the season, Il Lombardia. Subscribers get unlimited access to exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today.
Kirsten Frattini
Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.
She manages global budgets, racing & events, production scheduling, and contributor commissions, collaborating across content sections and teams in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia to ensure audience and subscription growth across the brand.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling’s biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
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Racing defensively not an option for bullish Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert in World Championships road race, but it’s up to Seixas and France ‘to make it a long and tough race’
News
By
Kirsten Frattini
Published
Time trial champion and 2022 rainbow jersey winner looks to make history by doing the double on Sunday in Montreal
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Facebook
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X
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Pinterest
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Racing defensively in the elite men’s road race would be unforgivable in the eyes of Remco Evenepoel, who lines up as part of Belgium’s two-pronged approach alongside Wout van Aert, both aiming for the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on Sunday.
“What mistake will I find hard to forgive myself for if I didn’t become world champion on Sunday? That I raced defensively,” Remco Evenepoel told Sporza in a press conference held at their national team’s residence at the Hôtel Mortagne on Friday evening.
Evenepoel and Van Aert are just two of several favourites heading into the elite men’s 273.7km that includes 3,800m of elevation gain across 12 laps of the Mount Royal circuit and the Camillien-Houde climb (2.3km at 6.2%).
Only the strongest riders will survive this race of attrition, with noted rivals including Paul Seixas (France), Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) and Isaac del Toro (Mexico), who won on this circuit just two weeks ago at the Grand Prix de Montreal.
Evenepoel secured his fourth elite time trial world title last weekend and arrived in Montreal having taken victories at the Clasica San Sebastian and Grand Prix de Quebec; he was also second overall at the Tour de France this year behind five-time winner Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia).
Pogačar will not line up to defend his world title won in Kigali last year, after crashing heavily at the Vuelta a España, and Evenepoel doesn’t believe that it is Belgium’s responsibility to make the race difficult.
“It is not up to us to do that. Wout van Aert and I are two finishers. Someone like Paul Seixas has to come in alone. Everyone knows that. So the French will have to make it a long and tough race,” he said in a Sporza interview. “I don’t need to be afraid to go to the finish with a group.”
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Even so, Evenepoel said that racing defensively would be his biggest regret.
He last won the elite men’s road race world title in 2022 in Wollongong, while Van Aert’s long list of accomplishments has yet to yield a rainbow jersey on the road.
Van Aert comes into this weekend as a favourite after a successful Vuelta a España, where he won two stages, posted eight top-10s, and took the points classification jersey.
His biggest win this year, and one of the most memorable, came at Paris-Roubaix, where he hoisted the cobblestone trophy above his head for the first time in his career.
A rainbow jersey to match would be a fitting ending to a season of firsts for Van Aert.
He reminded the press that he finished second at the Grand Prix de Montreal in 2022 and will understand the circuit’s demands. “I don’t need to convince anyone, except myself, that this course suits me,” he told Sporza.
Subscribe to Cyclingnews for comprehensive race coverage of both the UCI Road and Gravel World Championships, alongside the final monument of the season, Il Lombardia. Subscribers get unlimited access to exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today.
Kirsten Frattini
Kirsten Frattini has been the Editor of Cyclingnews since December 2025, overseeing editorial operations and output across the brand and delivering quality, engaging content.
She manages global budgets, racing & events, production scheduling, and contributor commissions, collaborating across content sections and teams in the UK, Europe, North America, and Australia to ensure audience and subscription growth across the brand.
Kirsten has a background in Kinesiology and Health Science. She has been involved in cycling from the community and grassroots level to professional cycling’s biggest races, reporting on the WorldTour, Spring Classics, Tours de France, World Championships and Olympic Games.
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-
1
A Tour de Langkawi that has the potential to provide the first answers on Lennart Jasch’s development into a GC threat
-
2
‘Yes, put me in’ – Riley Sheehan gets his call to compete for USA at Road Worlds hours after finishing GP Montreal and flying to Paris
-
3
‘There is definitely a beauty of having a competitor that’s so strong’ – Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney second best in explosive battle against Dutch rival at Road World Championships
-
4
‘We will just lick our wounds and come back for more’ – Kate Courtney’s debut at Road World Championships ends early after crash on fastest part of course
-
5
‘It’s the biggest victory of my career’ – Demi Vollering’s team-based plan pays off with title in World Championship road race
Racing defensively not an option for bullish Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert in World Championships road race, but it’s up to Seixas and France ‘to make it a long and tough race’
News
By
Kirsten Frattini
Published
Time trial champion and 2022 rainbow jersey winner looks to make history by doing the double on Sunday in Montreal
-
Facebook
-
X
-
Pinterest
-
Email
Follow us
Racing defensively in the elite men’s road race would be unforgivable in the eyes of Remco Evenepoel, who lines up as part of Belgium’s two-pronged approach alongside Wout van Aert, both aiming for the rainbow jersey at the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal on Sunday.
“What mistake will I find hard to forgive myself for if I didn’t become world champion on Sunday? That I raced defensively,” Remco Evenepoel told Sporza in a press conference held at their national team’s residence at the Hôtel Mortagne on Friday evening.
Evenepoel and Van Aert are just two of several favourites heading into the elite men’s 273.7km that includes 3,800m of elevation gain across 12 laps of the Mount Royal circuit and the Camillien-Houde climb (2.3km at 6.2%).
Only the strongest riders will survive this race of attrition, with noted rivals including Paul Seixas (France), Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands), Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) and Isaac del Toro (Mexico), who won on this circuit just two weeks ago at the Grand Prix de Montreal.
Evenepoel secured his fourth elite time trial world title last weekend and arrived in Montreal having taken victories at the Clasica San Sebastian and Grand Prix de Quebec; he was also second overall at the Tour de France this year behind five-time winner Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia).
Pogačar will not line up to defend his world title won in Kigali last year, after crashing heavily at the Vuelta a España, and Evenepoel doesn’t believe that it is Belgium’s responsibility to make the race difficult.
“It is not up to us to do that. Wout van Aert and I are two finishers. Someone like Paul Seixas has to come in alone. Everyone knows that. So the French will have to make it a long and tough race,” he said in a Sporza interview. “I don’t need to be afraid to go to the finish with a group.”
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Even so, Evenepoel said that racing defensively would be his biggest regret.
He last won the elite men’s road race world title in 2022 in Wollongong, while Van Aert’s long list of accomplishments has yet to yield a rainbow jersey on the road.
Van Aert comes into this weekend as a favourite after a successful Vuelta a España, where he won two stages, posted eight top-10s, and took the points classification jersey.
His biggest win this year, and one of the most memorable, came at Paris-Roubaix, where he hoisted the cobblestone trophy above his head for the first time in his career.
A rainbow jersey to match would be a fitting ending to a season of firsts for Van Aert.
He reminded the press that he finished second at the Grand Prix de Montreal in 2022 and will understand the circuit’s demands. “I don’t need to convince anyone, except myself, that this course suits me,” he told Sporza.
Subscribe to Cyclingnews for comprehensive race coverage of both the UCI Road and Gravel World Championships, alongside the final monument of the season, Il Lombardia. Subscribers get unlimited access to exclusive analysis from our expert columnists, in-depth features and industry-leading tech insight. Plus, the Cyclingnews app lets you follow the action wherever you go! Join today.
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