Pogacar Absent, Wide-Open Battle for Rainbow Jersey at Montreal Worlds

The 2026 UCI Road World Championships conclude Sunday with the elite men's road race in Montreal, Canada. Two-time defending champion Tadej Pogacar will not start after crashing out of the Vuelta a Espana on August 29, suffering a broken collarbone and neck injuries that ended his season. His absence creates the most open world championship race in years.

The 273.7-kilometer course features 12 laps of the punchy Mont Royal circuit, including the Camillien-Houde climb, totaling over 3,800 meters of elevation gain. The route mirrors the Grand Prix de Montreal, which Isaac del Toro won earlier this month, while Remco Evenepoel took the Grand Prix de Quebec.

“I think becoming Road World Champion would be something that would be truly amazing in my career, because it's going to be so hard to win.”

Belgium's Remco Evenepoel, the 2022 world champion and double Olympic gold medalist in Paris, enters as the top favorite given his climbing, punching, and solo attack capabilities. Mexico's Isaac del Toro arrives in career-best form after his Montreal GP victory and a sixth-place finish in the Worlds time trial. Britain's Tom Pidcock, a seven-time world champion in cyclo-cross and mountain bike with two Olympic golds, calls this his "best opportunity so far" to add an elite road title.

The United States fields its strongest team in decades, led by Brandon McNulty, Matteo Jorgenson, and Quinn Simmons. Sports director Mike Creed acknowledged the superstar opposition but said a top-five finish might be realistic, with the depth to race aggressively. Spain counts on Enric Mas and Juan Ayuso, while Slovenia pivots to Primoz Roglic in Pogacar's absence.

A large early breakaway of 16 riders, including Tilen Finkst and Andreas Leknessund, built a lead exceeding seven minutes before the peloton, containing all major favorites, began a gradual chase. With 102 kilometers remaining, the gap stood near five minutes as the race entered its decisive phase.