Demi Vollering sprints to victory in World Championships women’s road race thriller around Montréal
Kasia Niewiadoma finished runner-up in a two-up sprint as Elisa Longo Borghini claimed the bronze medal
After a race of attrition around Montréal, Demi Vollering emerged victorious to become World Champion in the women’s elite road race, as she won in a two-up sprint to claim the first rainbow jersey of her career.
The Dutch rider attacked on the sixth ascent of the Côte de Camillien Houde and went solo with just under 40km to go, but was brought back by Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland), Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) and Juliette Berthet (France) on the penultimate lap with 15km to go.
Vollering then had to ride defensively, as she closed down moves from Longo Borghini and Niewiadoma on the final lap, but still had enough in her legs to outsprint her Polish rival in the final few hundred metres to take the victory and finally claim the title that had eluded her for so long.
Results
UCI Road World Championships 2026, Women’s Elite Road Race: Brossard > Montréal (180km)
1. Demi Vollering, Netherlands, in 4:45:09
2. Kasia Niewiadoma, Poland, +17s
3. Elisa Longo Borghini, Italy, +4s
4. Marlen Reusser, Switzerland, +8s
5. Juliette Berthet, France, +39s
6. Puck Pieterse, Netherlands, +1:36
7. Célia Gery, France, +2:55
8. Dominika Włodarczyk, Poland, +4:16
9. Maeva Squiban, France, +5:48
10. Franziska Koch, Germany, +5:51
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Joseph Lycett is a freelance journalist for Cycling Weekly, who contributes to our WorldTour racing coverage with race reports and news stories. Joe is also a keen cyclist, regularly racing in his local crits and time trials.
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