![\"Global](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-5.png\")
<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Global Peloton<\/a><\/p>\n Cycling talents are hidden in all corners of the globe. The World Championships are an annual opportunity for them to step into the spotlight.<\/p>\n An unmissable feature at the UCI Road World Championships each year is the vibrant splash of colour in the peloton, as racers from around the world proudly wear kit representing their nations.<\/p>\n While the top level of professional cycling is dominated by a few countries, the World Championships provides an opportunity for those from the sport\u2019s emerging nations to put themselves out there while the eyes of the world are watching.<\/p>\n The likes of Mexico\u2019s Isaac del Toro and Mauritius\u2019 Kim Le Court-Pienaar will vie for the rainbow jersey, but there is also a vast amount of unseen talent in the hidden corners of the professional cycling world. Often, the World Championships is their biggest opportunity to show it.\u00a0<\/p>\n Riders from 62 different countries are due to take part in the elite men\u2019s road race on Sunday, while 56 nations will be represented in the women\u2019s race. The Montr\u00e9al Worlds is even more diverse than last year\u2019s event in Kigali, when 57 nations competed in the men\u2019s race and 44 in the women\u2019s.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Asia\u2019s emerging talents you should know about<\/p>\n Six riders who could become the continent\u2019s next break-out stars<\/p>\n After conducting some in-depth scouting of the World Championships start-lists, here are some hidden gems to look out for during the road races in Montr\u00e9al. Many of these riders are unlikely to contest for the win, but they will add their own unique stories to the wider World Championships narrative.<\/p>\n Elite Men<\/p>\n Rising out of the shadow of his absent trade team-mate Tadej Poga\u010dar, Mexico\u2019s Isaac del Toro has established himself as one of the firm favourites for the elite men\u2019s title on Sunday. Last year, Del Toro attacked alongside Poga\u010dar on the brutal Kigali course and paid for his efforts. In 2026, he comes into the race full of confidence after winning the GP Montr\u00e9al. Much has been said about his support team, and while the Mexican squad can\u2019t compare to the French or Belgians, Edgar Cadena (10th at the 2026 Lidl Deutschland Tour) is a solid rider.\u00a0Mexico has never won a medal at the UCI Road Worlds. Del Toro could break that curse, but there are other Mexican riders who also stand a chance of climbing onto the podium in Montr\u00e9al.<\/p>\n If last year we had a natural over-representation of African nations at the Worlds due to the event being held in Rwanda, this year we have the same from nations across the Americas. Riders from 16 North and South American nations will take part in the elite men\u2019s race \u2014 a high proportion given the UCI\u2019s qualification rules for the elite road races.\u00a0<\/p>\n Colombia will approach the difficult course with a strong climbing team, which includes the retiring Nairo Quintana. XDS-Astana\u2019s Harold Tejada and Bahrain Victorious\u2019 Santiago Buitrago will lead the team. Neighbours Ecuador also boast WorldTour talent including Jhonatan Narvaez, although headliner Richard Carapaz has pulled out.\u00a0<\/p>\n Looking a little deeper, one name that sticks out is former XCO mountain bike world cup winner Henrique Avancini. After more than a decade at the very top of the mountain bike world, the Brazilian pivoted to the road last year, competing in lower-level UCI races in Europe with continental team Factor Racing. This year, he switched to Brazilian team Localiza Meoo \/ Swift Pro Cycling. He won the Tour of the Gila Men in May and also raced the Tour du Rwanda and Volta Portugal. The now 37-year-old told reporters in Montr\u00e9al this week \u201cIt\u2019s been hard to be a newbie again. A very very nice experience to put myself in an uncomfortable place \u2026 To stop and retire and then restart a new career, it\u2019s a massive challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Giro d\u2019Italia\u2019s Uruguayan history-maker: Who is Thomas Silva?<\/p>\n The shy maglia rosa who beat the odds to reach the elite levels and become Uruguay\u2019s first Grand Tour stage winner.<\/p>\n This post is for paying subscribers only Already have an account? Sign in<\/a><\/p>\n Did we do a good job with this story?<\/p>\n \n \ud83d\udc4dYep![\"Dan](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1790199257_5_DanChallis.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/4-84d91574-a2d4-4d3c-8c9c-032fae445c73.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2-6.png\")
Del Toro was 6th in the elite men’s TT<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/1-1-4e19c81e-1441-40c9-ae02-3143b235ed18.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
\n Subscribe now<\/a><\/p>\n
\n \ud83d\udc4eNope\n <\/p>\n