World champion at last! Demi Vollering made the race her own but is pushed all the way to the end
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Follow us on GoogleDemi Vollering has claimed the world title at the Women's World Cycling Championships in Montreal. The Dutch rider defeated Poland's Kasia Niewiadoma in a thrilling final. Elisa Longo Borghini also featured in the final and took the bronze medal.
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Unusually, the Dutch women haven't had much success in Canada yet. The time trial didn’t go according to plan, with Vollering finishing eighth and Lieke Nooijen twelfth. But the main event—the road race—is where it’s all going to happen. National team coach Laurens ten Dam had carefully assembled a team around his lead rider.
The race will take place on a 180-kilometer course, featuring eight laps around the local circuit in Montréal. The Voie Camilien-Houde is the decisive climb, with a 1.7-kilometer stretch averaging just over 7 percent. A tough challenge, especially when it’s repeated. Can Vollering finally claim her coveted world title? She’ll begin her quest shortly after 2:00 p.m. GMT.
The race will take place over a 180-kilometre course, comprising eight laps of the local circuit in Montréal. The Voie Camilien-Houde is the decisive climb, with 1.7 kilometres at just over seven per cent gradient. A tough one, especially when it’s repeated. Can Vollering finally clinch her long-awaited world title?
After the white flag was waved, the peloton set off following a neutralisation. The first quarter of an hour, however, was very quiet: several riders took advantage of the situation and stopped at the side of the road for a toilet break. After just under twenty kilometres of racing, the breakaways began: the one by the Portuguese rider Beatriz Roxo was the first serious attack.
Little action before the local laps; major crash startles the peloton
The 22-year-old was joined by three pursuers: Marte Berg Edseth (Norway), Natalie Quinn (USA) and Gergana Stoyanova (Bulgaria) caught up with her. After the peloton gave the quartet some space, the Dutch women took the lead of the peloton. Lieke Nooijen led the way for the most kilometres. The leading quartet built up a lead of around four minutes.
After sixty flat kilometres, the leading group was the first to enter the local circuits in Montréal. On the first few metres of the climb, the pace proved too fast for Stoyanova and Roxo in the leading group. National coach Ten Dam’s Dutch team maintained control despite the nervousness, with Amber Kraak and Nooijen doing most of the work at the front.
After more than two hours of racing, that nervousness did, however, lead to a major crash. Among those involved was the outgoing world champion, Magdeleine Vallieres (Canada). From the Dutch team, it was Femke de Vries who was caught up in the crash. Kim Le Court (Mauritius) was also held up by the crash. The peloton was significantly thinned out by the crash.
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Blasi withdraws from the race; De Vries rejoins the peloton
Favourite Paula Blasi (Spain), who had already crashed during the local laps, even abandoned the race following the major crash. Several riders from the Swedish, Polish and Australian teams were left lying badly on the ground. The early breakaway was caught with 76 kilometres to go, allowing the pre-finale to begin.
With 71 kilometres to go, De Vries managed to rejoin the thinned-out peloton. Alongside her, Mavi Garcia (Spain), Lauren Dickson (GB) and Sarah Gigante (Australia) also managed to reconnect with the group after the delay caused by the crash. In the phase immediately following the crash, little happened: the Dutch women set the pace, with the rest following.
Nooijen then decides she’s had enough: the rider from Drenthe has done a lot of the work at the front and breaks away from the peloton. It’s proving too fast for Zoe Backstedt as well. The British rider has to drop on the climb, but on the descent the talented rider manages to get back into the race. Meanwhile, Fisher-Black – following her crash – has withdrawn from the race. Markus and Swinkels are keeping the peloton under control at this stage. From a Dutch perspective, we’ve already lost De Vries, Nooijen and Kraak.
The Netherlands quickly loses several domestiques, but opts to attack
But not long after, Markus also finds the climb too steep. The tall rider is dropped from the front, leaving Swinkels to fend for herself at this stage. Meanwhile, France has launched an attack with Squiban. The competition smells blood and tries to mount a counter-attack. Meanwhile, the Dutch team receives help from the Italians, who are now also in control.
With three laps to go, the Netherlands then decide to launch their own final attack. Following a lead-out by Swinkels, Puck Pieterse pushes the pace up sharply. Vollering manages to keep up, but for Lotte Kopecky and others, the pace is too high. No one can stay on Vollering’s wheel, and so the rider from South Holland begins a long solo breakaway 37 kilometres from the finish.
Vollering retains her lead; Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma respond
With two laps to go, Vollering still leads by twenty seconds. On the penultimate pass through the Voie Camilien-Houde climb, however, the rider from Pijnacker manages to extend that lead by ten seconds. That lead does not last long, as Elisa Longo Borghini and Kasia Niewiadoma launch an attack. On the descent, Reusser, Berthet and Pieterse manage to rejoin the Italian and Polish riders.
At the next intermediate sprint, Niewiadoma tried again with an all-or-nothing attempt. Once more, only Longo Borghini could keep up. Berthet also joined them. Pieterse and Reusser were then a little way behind. For a third time, Niewiadoma began to stand on the pedals, and this time with success. In no time at all, the gap to Volllering was closed. Longo Borghini stayed on her wheel.
Just before entering the final lap, Berthet also joins the trio. As the bell rings, a new attack follows: Longo Borghini breaks away and no one reacts immediately. A stroke of luck for Vollering: the real calf-burner of the World Championship circuit begins straight away.
Vollering puts Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma under pressure once again
Vollering and Niewiadoma are now clear. Longo Borghini has to chase. The Italian, who was ten seconds behind, manages to close the gap to three seconds with five kilometres to go. Vollering and Niewiadoma carry on, but hold back slightly. On the final climb, Vollering stands out of the saddle one last time. Niewiadoma is able to counter.
Nevertheless, the two stay together. The gap to Longo Borghini has widened as a result, but Vollering and Niewiadoma also start to keep an eye on each other again. In the final kilometre, however, the pair have enough time to play their game, even though the chasers are closing in dangerously. Vollering takes the lead into the final 500 metres, but manages to seal the victory in the sprint.
Result, 2026 World Cycling Championships – Elite Women
- Demi Vollering
- Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney
- Elisa Longo Borghini
- Marlen Reusser
- Juliette Berthet
- Puck Pieterse
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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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