The Belgian is chasing his fourth consecutive world title in the individual time trial, something no rider has managed before. Rogers and Martin each put together three consecutive TT world TT dubs, but a fourth has remained out of reach.<\/p>\n
Evenepoel enters the race as the defending champion after a dominant performance in Kigali last year. He covered the 40.6-km course in 49:46, finishing 1:15 ahead of Australia\u2019s Jay Vine and 2:36 ahead of teammate Ilan Van Wilder. Tadej Poga\u010dar was fourth, just two seconds outside the medals. As we all know, there will be no Pogi this year. (Sigh.)<\/p>\n
Can Evenepoel make history?<\/p>\n
Evenepoel\u2019s three consecutive titles came in 2023, 2024 and 2025, following Tobias Foss\u2019s win in 2022. Before that, Filippo Ganna took the rainbow jersey in 2020 and 2021. The TT began as a standalone event relatively recently\u20141994.<\/p>\n
British ace Chris Boardman won the inaugural event, but since then, no one has won four in a row. Evenepoel is chasing a fourth straight world time-trial title, and he has to be considered the odds-on favourite. He looked sharp when he won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montr\u00e9al.<\/p>\n
The Canucks<\/p>\n
Canadians-wise, Oakville, Ont.\u2019s Michael Leonard will ride, joined by Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Que.\u2019s Nick Zukowsky. Zuke takes Derek Gee-West\u2019s spot. The Osgoode, Ont. rider broke some ribs in a crash at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montr\u00e9al on Sunday. He\u2019s now skipping the mixed relay and TT, but is hopefully racing the road race at the end of the month.<\/a><\/p>\n The women\u2019s race<\/p>\n Over in the women\u2019s race, Marlen Reusser arrives in Montr\u00e9al as the defending world champion and has to be considered in a similar status as far as favourites go. But the 2026 time trial presents a different test, it should be noted. The 39-km course is largely flat, taking away some of the advantage Reusser can gain on tougher terrain.<\/p>\n