Listen to this article
Estimated 2 minutes
The audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.
Marlen Reusser of Switzerland successfully defended her title in the women’s elite individual time trial at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, with a near-perfect performance. She finished 40.11 seconds ahead of second place to claim the rainbow jersey and gold medal on her 35th birthday.
Great Britain’s Zoe Backstedt earned her first elite World Championship medal, taking silver, while Germany’s Franziska Koch produced a surprising performance to finish third.
Canada’s top finishers included Nadia Gontova, who crossed the line in 19th place in 53:38.11, followed by Olivia Baril in 23rd at 55:11.01.
On the men’s side of the elite individual time trial, it was Remco Evenepoel who topped the podium after posting a time of 44:53.13. The Belgian averaged a speed of 52.400 km/h en route to victory.
Evenepoel won with a sizeable 57.31-second gap on second-place Ganna Filippo of Italy, who completed the race in a time of 45:50.44. France’s Paul Seixas was third with a time of 46:06.17.
The top Canadian on the day was Oakville, Ont., native Michael Leonard, who finished in 13th position with a time of 47:02.78. Nickolas Zukowsky, of Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Ont., came in 31st and marked a time of 48:12.29.
The elite Canadian men’s road race team also includes Michael Woods, Derek Gee, Pier-André Côté and Hugo Houle.
The UCI Road Cycling World Championships are one of the only professional road cycling races outside of the Olympic Games where athletes line up for their nations instead of their professional teams. The event will include more than 1,000 athletes from more than 75 countries. CBC Sports and CBC Gem has full coverage of the event.
The next generation of cycling stars will take to the roads tomorrow, with the under-23 races getting underway.
The competition will continue for eight days, from Sept. 20 through Sept. 27.