2026 World Time Trial Championships Elite Women Preview | Reusser, Vollering & Backstedt to star in Montréal
CyclingTuesday, 15 September 2026 at 13:59
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Follow us on GoogleSunday, September 22 is the big day: the start of the 2026 World Cycling Championships in Montreal, Canada. The first world title race we’ll get to see is the elite women’s individual time trial. The women will take on a course of just under 40 kilometers, and here at IDL Pro Cycling we’re more than happy to preview the race for you!
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A dutch drought in the women's time trial world championships
It’s already been four years since the usually dominant Netherlands stood on the top step of the podium at the World Time Trial Championships, when Ellen van Dijk claimed victory in Wollongong, Australia. In the years prior, Anna van der Breggen and Annemiek van Vleuten also managed to claim the rainbow jersey.
Since 2022, An American, an Australian and a Swiss have spoiled the Dutch party. In 2025, Marlene Reusser won the title in Rwanda, with Anna van der Breggen taking silver and Demi Vollering the bronze. Vollering, who will be back in 2026, hopes to go one better.
Recent Winners of the Women's World Time Trial Championships
2025 Marlen Reusser
2024 Grace Brown
2023 Chloé Dygert
2022 Ellen van Dijk
2021 Ellen van Dijk
2020 Anna van der Breggen
2019 Chloé Dygert
2018 Annemiek van Vleuten
2017 Annemiek van Vleuten
2016 Amber Neben
2024 Grace Brown
2023 Chloé Dygert
2022 Ellen van Dijk
2021 Ellen van Dijk
2020 Anna van der Breggen
2019 Chloé Dygert
2018 Annemiek van Vleuten
2017 Annemiek van Vleuten
2016 Amber Neben
2026 Women's World Time Trial Championships: Route, weather, and times
The World Time Trial Championship on Sunday, September 22, will kick off the World Cycling Championships in Montreal, Canada. While we mainly know this city in the cycling world for the GP Montreal, the time trial there is nothing like it.
Based on the men’s WorldTour race, one might assume it’s a city with quite a bit of elevation, but in reality, that’s true for only a very small portion of the course.
Read more below the photo!
We’ll see that part during the road races, but the time trials will be held in a different part of the city. We’ll start on Avenue du Parc, which is also where all the road races finish. Then we’ll head straight for the St. Lawrence River, the flowing heart of Montreal, to ride alongside it and eventually cross it.
You also have to cross there to reach the Montreal Formula 1 circuit (Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve), which is located on Île Notre-Dame. Fun fact: this circuit is car-free for most of the year and is actually used by many locals for recreational sports activities.
After a lap around the racetrack, we slowly make our way back to the start and finish line, which takes us along roads through the Port of Montreal and the old city center, known as Vieux-Montréal. We’ll finish at Mount Royal Park, but we’ll skip those hills for now.
However, just like in the road race, the final 500 meters climb at a gradient of about 4 percent, which can be quite tough after 39 kilometers of cycling. The total elevation gain is just over 200 meters.
Weather report
With temperatures around 14 degrees Celsius on this Canadian morning, it doesn’t look like it will get too warm in Montreal on Sunday. However, it will remain dry for now, with a light morning breeze from the northwest.
Important times
Start: 9:00 a.m local time (2:00 p.m GMT)
Finish: 11:20 a.m. (4:20 p.m GMT)
Favourites for the 2026 Women's World Time Trial Championships
So last year, it was Marlen Reusser who managed to outpace the Dutch riders Van der Breggen and Vollering on a significantly tougher course in Rwanda. Afterward, the always outgoing Swiss rider couldn’t help but smile when we had the chance to interview her.“A nice Dutch sandwich on the podium,” she chuckled.
It’s quite possible that the Dutch team will once again be topped with Swiss cheese, because if we were to rank the favorites, we’d actually end up with the same breakdown. That means: Reusser, who was beaten this season only in the Giro time trial by Van der Breggen—who isn’t here—takes the top spot by a landslide.
Behind them, Demi Vollering and Lieke Nooijen—who finished third and second, respectively, in this season’s Tour de France Femmes time trial—are among the top contenders for a medal. Nooijen, in particular, has been able to focus entirely on the individual time trial, while Vollering, of course, also has her sights set on the road race taking place one week later.
There’s also a very real chance that we’ll see a British rider, Zoe Backstedt , on the podium. The 21-year-old all-around talent has been riding very solidly against the clock all season and has made this world championship a major goal.
Lotte Kopecky is back in action after a year away from the World Championships, but her time trials haven’t been great so far this season. Antonia Niedermaier from Germany has also been a mainstay on the time trial scene in recent years, while the Anglo-Saxon specialists Kristen Faulkner, Taylor Knibb (USA), and Anna Morris (GBR) shouldn’t be overlooked either,
The same goes for Elisa Longo Borghini, Vittoria Guazzini (Italy), Cedrine Kerbaol, Juliette Berthet (France), Katrine Aalerud ( Norway), Christina Schweinberger (Austria), and the top Spanish prospect Paula Blasi.
IDL Pro Cycling top picks, 2026 Women’s World Time Trial Championships?
Top Favorite: Marlen Reusser (Switzerland)
Dark horses: Demi Vollering, Lieke Nooijen (Netherlands), and Zoe Backstedt (Great Britain)
Long shots: Lotte Kopecky (Belgium), Antonia Niedermaier (Germany), Taylor Knibb, Kristen Faulkner (United States), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), Paula Blasi (Spain), and Katrine Aalerud (Norway)
Dark horses: Demi Vollering, Lieke Nooijen (Netherlands), and Zoe Backstedt (Great Britain)
Long shots: Lotte Kopecky (Belgium), Antonia Niedermaier (Germany), Taylor Knibb, Kristen Faulkner (United States), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy), Paula Blasi (Spain), and Katrine Aalerud (Norway)
How to watch the 2026 Women's World Championship Time Trial on TV
The Elite Women's World Time Trial Championship will be broadcast on Sunday starting at 3:00 p.m. on Eurosport (HBO Max and the main channel), NOS (NPO 1 and online), and Sporza (VRT 1 and online).
Read also
David Bavin-HobbsChief Editor
David has been working in the sports & cycling industry for 16 years. Covering racing, business and technology, he has worked in communications for cycling companies, teams, and as a journalist. His proudest achievement is winning the first bike race he ever entered. He hasn't won a race since.
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Latest Comments
- - Grande artículo, pero una duda: if “you don’t have to be the strongest to win,” does that mean we’ll see more negative racing? Seems a bit defeatist, no?raceready715-09-2026
- - Pidcock managing his efforts will be key. He was too eager in Montreal; hold fire until the final lap and he’s dangerous. Also, no Pogačar = more tactical chaos. Brilliant.davidm15-09-2026
- - Can someone explain why the Worlds route is that much longer than Montreal GP but on a similar circuit? Is it just extra laps, or are there added climbs too?patriciaw15-09-2026
- - Not sure about naming Del Toro and Seixas as top favorites over MvdP and WVA. Feels a tad contrarian—class usually tells in a 270k attrition day.michael5415-09-2026
- - Love the honesty from Pidcock. Montreal GP as a dress rehearsal makes sense—those last two laps bite. If GB keeps numbers late, he’s got a real medal shout.julien15-09-2026
- No matter the results, the intervening difficulties, or even the crashes, including two within minutes of each other last month when Sepp appeared headed for a long-hoped for stage win at the Tour de France, Seth Kuss always finds a reason to be grateful, an an ability to project positivity and a smile. Chapeau to Sepp,rjb13-09-2026
- Pogi is the Road Warrior par excellence. Come back even stronger much to the chagrin of all other competitors.
Brucegel12-09-2026 - - Félicitations in advance si ça se concrétise. Line-up looks très britannique mais con ambición grande. Tour 2027 en Edimbourg sería épico si les invitan.gearguru3310-09-2026
- - Vamos Ethan! Breakaway king of this Vuelta and super combative. Today’s flat chrono is perfect terrain—just keep it clean through the Jerez crosswinds.breakawaybikerd10-09-2026
- - Bit cautious here. Hayter’s had stop-start seasons with crashes/illness and I still don’t know if he’s a GC week-long guy or a TT/sprint hybrid. Curious whether they build around him or Pidcock first.pedalpowe2910-09-2026
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