After seven days of world-class racing, an incredible home crowd and unforgettable moments on the streets of Montréal, Team Canada closes the chapter on the 2026 UCI Road World Championships with pride. For all 27 Canadian road athletes, racing through the streets of Montréal in front of their loved ones, and welcoming the rest of the globe to our home, the week was an unforgettable World Championships and a truly special experience for the entire team.
The week began on a strong note with the Elite Individual Time Trials, where Nadia Gontova, Olivia Baril, Nickolas Zukowsky and Michael Leonard took on the Montréal course against some of the world’s strongest time trial riders. Canada’s top performances came from Nadia Gontova, who finished 19th, and Michael Leonard, who secured 13th place in a highly competitive field.
The time trials continued with the U23 Individual Time Trials, where Canada showcased the strength of its emerging talent. Ava Holmgren and Sidney Swierenga represented the maple leaf in the women’s race, while Carson Mattern and Jonas Walton lined up in the men’s event. Leading the Canadian results were Ava Holmgren with an impressive sixth-place finish and Jonas Walton in 16th.
On Tuesday, Canada had a strong squad in the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay, with Olivia Baril, Nadia Gontova, Alison Jackson, Nickolas Zukowsky, Pier-André Côté and Michael Leonard combining to represent the nation. The day’s action also featured the Junior Individual Time Trials, where Carter De Veer and Zachari Moreau took on the men’s race, while Élodie Malois and Elly Moore proudly wore the maple leaf in the women’s event.
Thursday was a special day for Canadians and one of the team’s most memorable moments of the Championships, as the Women’s Under-23 Road Race put some of the team’s strongest talent on display. Representing Canada were Alexandra Volstad, Ava Holmgren, Isabella Holmgren, Kiara Lylyk and Sidney Swierenga, while Amos Scott Bouris, Albert Brouillette, Carter de Veer and Zachari Moreau competed later in the Junior Men’s Road Race.
Isabella Holmgren raced competitively from the opening kilometres and positioned herself among the strongest riders in the field. After making the decisive front group, Holmgren sprinted to a remarkable silver medal, capturing Canada’s first-ever U23 Road World Championships medal and solidifying her place among the world’s top young road racers. Canada continued its impressive showing as Sidney Swierenga finished in eighth place, giving the nation two riders inside the top 10 in a world-class field. Celebrating amongst her family and friends, Holmgren made history on Canadian turf after what has been an incredible season already for the multi-discipline athlete.
In the U23 men’s event on Friday, Adam Smith, Jérôme Gauthier, Jonas Walton and Luke Valenti tackled a demanding 174.2-kilometre course against one of the deepest field. Later in the day, Molly Flynn, Élodie Malois, Elly Moore, Sandrine Veilleux and Julia Lehmann represented Canada in the Junior Women’s Road Race, taking on a fast and competitive field. The race saw Élodie Malois leading the early action, spending time at the front of the race and showcasing an aggressive racing style against the world’s best junior riders.
Closing out the Championships strongly, Saturday and Sunday concluded with the elite road races, where Canada’s top athletes took on two demanding days of competition in front of passionate home crowds. In the Women’s Elite Road Race, Adèle Normand, Alison Jackson, Magdeleine Vallières Mill, Maggie Coles-Lyster, Nadia Gontova, Olivia Baril and Sarah Van Dam represented Canada over the challenging 180.4-kilometre course from Brossard to Montréal. Sarah Van Dam delivered Canada’s top result in the race, battling through a demanding day of racing to secure an impressive 17th-place finish. The team raced aggressively throughout the day, with Magdeleine Vallières Mill delivering a courageous and hard-fought performance after being involved in a crash during the race. A special mention goes to Adele Normand, who put competition aside to stop and ensure Magdeleine was okay, helping bring her back. Thank you, Adele, for reminding us what true teamwork looks like.
On Sunday, the Championships came to a close with the Men’s Elite Road Race, where Guillaume Boivin, Hugo Houle, Michael Leonard, Michael Woods, Nickolas Zukowsky and Pier-André Côté carried the maple leaf through the gruelling 273.7-kilometre course. Beyond racing, the weekend marked an emotional milestone for Canadian cycling as Michael Woods, Olivia Baril and Guillaume Boivin brought their professional careers to a close. Their retirements cap remarkable careers that have helped shape the Canadian cycling landscape, inspiring a new generation of athletes while representing Canada with distinction on the world stage.
Thank you montréal
As Canada closes out on an unforgettable week of racing, Cycling Canada extends its heartfelt thanks to every athlete, coach, staff member, volunteer, official, partner and fan who made these Championships so special. From a historic medal to countless acts of teamwork, resilience and sportsmanship, this team represented the maple leaf with pride on home roads. To the athletes, thank you for your commitment, and passion. To the families, supporters and communities that stood behind them every step of the way, thank you for believing in their journey. And to our retiring athletes, whose careers have inspired generations of Canadian cyclists, thank you for the legacy you leave behind. Together, you helped create memories that will be remembered for years to come, showcasing the strength, spirit and future of cycling in Canada.
To view the full results from the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, please visit the UCI website. To view the UCI event recap, click here.
