The Montreal road worlds are done—and what a week of racing it was—with plenty of riders getting new rainbow jerseys, new bikes and matchy-matchy kit this week.
But there’s still another big event coming up with some swag for the winners, the 2026 European championships.
Women’s road race: Vollering again?
The women’s elite road race at the 2026 European Championships takes place Saturday in Urška Žigart and Tadej Pogačar county: Slovenia. The 131-km course starts in Ljubljana and heads through Komenda before reaching the finishing circuit in Šenčur.
Riders will tackle the 2.1-km Možjanca climb, which averages about 10 per cent, twice before a fast descent toward the finish. Defending European champion Demi Vollering will line up after winning the world title in Montreal last weekend. Elisa Longo Borghini and Marlen Reusser are also among the notable starters.
Reusser will compete in both the road race and time trial. Reusser once joked how she would love a combination rainbow, Euro and Swiss champs jersey. We’ve yet to see one, but if she repeats again with the worlds/Euro double, maybe it’s time for Movistar to make one?
Men’s road race: Evenepoel to make up for the road worlds?
Remco Evenepoel will lead Belgium into Sunday’s European Championships road race in Slovenia after winning his fourth world time trial title in Montreal. The 196.3-km race starts in Ljubljana and finishes in Šenčur, with five ascents of the 2.1-km Možjanca climb, which averages 10.2 per cent and has ramps reaching 16 per cent.
The climb’s final summit comes 14 km from the finish. Primož Roglič leads the Slovenian team, while Italy has Giulio Ciccone and Giulio Pellizzari. Juan Ayuso, Kévin Vauquelin and Mads Pedersen are also among the notable names. Pogačar is not on the start list, despite earlier rumours. Neither is Žigart, alas. Which is a bummer as it would have been super-cool to see both of them rip it up on home soil. Apparently they are there to support their pals, though. But not to race.
So the good news for us Canucks is you can watch it for free on Eurovisionsport. You just have to create a login and bingo bongo, you’re in.
The broadcast for the women’s race on Saturday is 7:20 a.m. EDT, and the men’s is on at 6:20 a.m. EDT. Oh, there’s also some ‘cross on Sunday. The first Exact Cross of the year is on Flobikes.com.