So, who among you has been keeping an eye on Montreal these past few days? There, where the UCI Road World Championships 2026 are currently in full swing, there has already been plenty to see – and especially one person who has once again shown where the hammer hangs.
Right on September 20, the first race day of the World Championships, the Belgian Remco Evenepoel struck in the Men's Elite Individual Time Trial. And how! That was his fourth time trial title in a row at a cycling World Championship, and it happened right in Montreal.
The Olympic champion has also announced that this is just a stopover: He wants to keep the rainbow jersey for as long as possible and is aiming for his fifth World Championship gold in 2027 in the French Alps, specifically in Sallanches. And in 2028 in Abu Dhabi, he could follow up immediately.
But Evenepoel was certainly not the only one at the start in Montreal in the first days. On September 20, that is Sunday, the Women's Elite Individual Time Trial also kicked off at 09:19. They also had to tackle 39.2 kilometers with 220 meters of elevation gain. And on Monday, September 21, it was the turn of the U23 categories. The Women U23 started at 9:00 AM for 20.3 kilometers and 145 meters of elevation gain, while the Men U23 were sent off at 12:00 PM on a 31.3-kilometer course with 197 meters of elevation gain. The 220 meters of elevation gain over 39.2 kilometers in the Elite Time Trial may not be a Schöckl ascent for us Grazers, but at race pace, it’s quite a challenge; you’ll work up a sweat even on the Murradweg if you push through like that.
Today, on September 22, the Mixed Relay Team Time Trial continues, starting at 8:30 AM local time and covering 40.6 kilometers with 290 meters of elevation gain. After that, it’s the juniors’ turn: The Men Junior Individual Time Trial begins at 12:15 PM over 20.3 kilometers and 145 meters of elevation gain, and the Women Junior Individual Time Trial starts at 3:15 PM on a shorter but challenging course of 10.7 kilometers with 91 meters of elevation gain. There will surely be a lot of gas given before one enjoys a well-deserved break at Lendplatz – just in Montreal.
The next few days promise even more spectacle. On September 24, the first road races will take place: The Women U23 will start at 9:00 AM local time for 134 kilometers and a proud 2690 meters of elevation gain, and the Men Junior will follow at 1:30 PM over the same distance and with the same elevation gain. That’s quite a statement; you really need to have some serious mountain training behind you; one lap around the Hilmteich won’t cut it anymore.
On September 25, the road races for the Men U23 will continue at 9:00 AM local time over 174.2 kilometers and an incredible 3497 meters of elevation gain. The Women Junior have their road race at 2:15 PM, where they must tackle 80.4 kilometers and 1614 meters of elevation gain. It will surely be exciting to see who comes out on top in the end.
The highlight for many will be the weekend: On September 26 at 9:00 AM local time, the Women Elite Road Race will start over 180.4 kilometers and 2570 meters of elevation gain. And to conclude the World Championships, on September 27 at 9:00 AM local time, the Men Elite Road Race will take place – with a hefty 273.7 kilometers and an incredible 3803 meters of elevation gain. That’s a distance and an elevation profile that will demand everything from even the most experienced cyclists. Many Graz cyclists will probably be glad that they only have to climb the Plabutsch and not tackle the whole Schöckl multiple times.
The UCI Road World Championships 2026 in Montreal thus offer plenty of excitement and show what is possible in cycling. Maybe this is the motivation to take another lap around the Hilmteich or cross the Augarten before a tram at the Hauptplatz shows you who has the right of way. Or you can simply watch the races and get inspired!
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