Remco Evenepoel and British Contenders Face a Grueling Course at the 2026 World Championships in Montreal

The men’s elite road race at the 2026 UCI World Championships in Montreal covers 273.7 km and includes almost 4,000 m of climbing. The race takes place on Sunday and is marked by the absence of defending champion Tadej Pogacar, who is recovering from a crash in the Vuelta a España. A large field of contenders is led by Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, France’s Paul Seixas, Mexico’s Isaac del Toro and the British duo Tom Pidcock and Oscar Onley. Evenepoel, the first rider to win four consecutive world time-trial titles, has dubbed his preparation “Project Canada” and hopes to become the first cyclist to hold all four world and Olympic road and time-trial titles simultaneously.

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• Remco Evenepoel – Belgium, World time-trial champion: targeting a historic sweep of road and time-trial titles at the same championships.

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• Tom Pidcock – Great Britain, double Olympic gold-medalist: fresh from a world mountain-bike title and a win at the Italian GP Industria & Artigianato, he says he is not the top favourite but views the race as his best chance to win the rainbow jersey.

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• Oscar Onley – Great Britain, former best-young-rider at the 2025 Tour de France: backed by former Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, who describes Onley as “a great rider” with a relatable attitude.

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The week of racing in Canada is shadowed by ongoing rider-safety debates. Two years after the death of Muriel Furrer at the 2024 world championships, the fatal collision of Fin Tarling in Portugal this August has reignited criticism. Matt Brennan, a five-stage winner in the recent Vuelta, argues that an independent body should enforce strict safety rules for race organisers and the UCI. The UCI’s management committee later cited improved barriers, GPS tracking and equipment regulation as essential measures, but did not address the specific security lapses that allowed cars onto the race course. Tarling’s death remains under investigation by the Portuguese Public Prosecutor’s Office.

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Geraint Thomas, director of racing for Netcompany Ineos, praised Onley’s talent and mental strength, emphasizing the rider’s desire to perform without succumbing to pressure. Pidcock reiterated his realistic outlook, noting that the open nature of the race gives him his strongest opportunity yet. The UCI committee highlighted general safety enhancements but omitted direct reference to recent fatal incidents.

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• “It’s going to be a hard course,” — Zoe Backstedt

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• “There should be an independent organisation that holds the (race) organisations, the UCI and everything accountable to some very strict rules that makes sure the safety of the riders is held as a priority,” — Matt Brennan

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