Tadej Pogacar's third consecutive win? The organizing committee of the 2026 Montreal Road World Championships has revealed the routes for its events, scheduled between September 20 and 27, 2026. The Slovenian superstar can legitimately hope to win a third consecutive title in view of the 3.720 meters of altitude difference awaiting the men's peloton in the 273-kilometer Elite road race. The organization has drawn a demanding 13,4-kilometer circuit around Mount Royal, including the Camillien-Houde climb (2,3 km at an average of 6,2%) and the Polytechnique hill, where the gradient will exceed 11%. This circuit will be used for all road races. The women will have to complete it eight times, for a total of 180 kilometers and 2502 meters of elevation gain.
Once is not custom, the time trials will be perfectly identical for men and women : 39,9 kilometers on the menu, passing through the Gilles-Villeneuve circuit and Jean-Drapeau park (195 m elevation gain). Building on its experience with the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, in particular, the City confirms its desire to strengthen its status as world reference in cyclingThe courses presented will not only offer a spectacular showcase of the metropolis' riches, but will also inspire its citizens to fully enjoy the joys and benefits of cycling in the longer term ", said UCI President David Lappartient.
« This will be an exceptional opportunity to showcase the Montreal metropolitan region and to highlight the 50th anniversary of the Montreal Olympic Games. The public will be able to attend this prestigious competition for free, which will bring together the best male and female cyclists in the world. It will also be a golden opportunity to discover our city, its shops, its parks and its attractions. In addition to a high-level sporting spectacle, the event will leave lasting legacies, such as repaving the seaway, while generating significant economic benefits ", enthuses Alain Vaillancourt, member of the executive committee of the city of Montreal.
« This will be a historic moment for Montreal, supports Yves Lalumière, CEO of Tourisme Montréal. Host the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, the biggest sporting event in our destination since the 1976 Olympic Games, will represent an immense honor and an exceptional showcase on a global scale. » This edition will be the second to be held in Montreal after that of 1974, and the first in Canada since Hamilton 2003.
