Zoe Bckstedt left Montral with her first elite individual time trial medal at the World Championships, but the silver medalist admitted that the 39.2-kilometer course pushed her beyond the distance she currently considers her specialty. The 21-year-old Briton produced one of the fastest starts of...

The 2026 UCI Road World Championships officially opened when Zimbabwes Skye Davidson rolled down the starting ramp of the womens elite time trial.But she contested her race on a rather unusual setup. Where weve become used to seeing the latest and greatest of incredibly sleek, wind-defying machines, hers lookedwell, a bit dated.She rode what appeared to be a 2015 Cervlo P3, complete with rim brakes, mechanical Shimano Dura-Ace and Profile Design clip-on aerobars. She was rolling on a Zipp 404 front wheel and a Zipp 808 rear wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tyres.Still a serious time-trial bike, but roughly a decade old, borrowed at the last minute and a size bigger than her usual ride.As it turns out, the bike belongs to Zimbabwe team manager Nathan van Vuuren, who lent Davidson his bike after hers broke during the course recon the day before."This bike is the first time Im riding it, 'cause my bike broke yesterday," Davidson explained. "The derailleur hanger snapped and the jockey wheel broke, but it's done that three times in the last week."Van Vuuren, who stood noticeably taller than Davidson as we spoke afterward her race, came to the rescue and offered his own bike."Good thing I brought it," he remarked.Davidson usually rides a 54cm bike but was happy with the 56cm loaner."It's not the end of the world," she said of the substitute. "I mean, its great considering, you know, compared to my road bike, which was my only other option. Its great.(Image credit: Anne-Marije Rook)Davidson is a former multi-time Zimbabwean national road race and time trial champion who previously rode for the University of Edinburgh cycling team while studying astrophysics. She hasnt raced a time trial in a couple of years and started first.I was actually very happy that I was going off first, cause I think it kind of removes all of the pressure, she said. And it was quite nice having the motorbike in front to follow.There was also the relief of knowing there was a little breathing room before the biggest names came through.Not having too many of the big, big riders going immediately after me, so that was quite nice, she said.Once underway, the temptation was to attack the technical opening too enthusiastically.The beginning bit is very hard to not go out too hard because of all the corners, and you kind of want to ride it quite aggressively, she said. I think I did go out a little bit too hard, which is absolutely fine. I can learn from that.She found a rhythm through the first three quarters before the effort began to catch up with her.My legs were really, really killing me towards the end. But I think I managed to back off just enough to ride the last 4Ks up all the hills.Davidson finished 40th.All things considered, I am quite happy, she concluded.Davidsons World Championships continue on Saturday, 26th September with the womens elite road race.The Cervlos championship arent over yet either. It will make another appearance in the junior mens time trial.

Isaac del Toro has an opportunity that goes far beyond pulling on the rainbow jersey at the Montral 2026 World Championships. The 22-year-old Mexican arrives as one of the marquee names and, after what happened at the recent GP de Montral, even as one of the leading contenders for the title. If he...

Axel Mariault will return to the professional ranks in 2027 after Unibet Rose Rockets announced the signing of the 28-year-old Frenchman from CIC Pro Cycling Academy. For Mariault, the move is the next step in a career that has already taken him from the French amateur scene to the WorldTour, back d...

The 2026 World Championships continue on Monday as the Womenb's U23 time trial kicks off day two of the Championships after the elite men and women's time trials. 52 young riders will compete for the rainbow bands as the start times and order have been confirmed. After Remco Evenepoel and Marlen Reu...

Remco Evenepoel's affinity for board games helped him connect four on Sunday as the Belgian won his fourth time trial world title in a row, emphatically beating the rest of the field in the 39.2km race against the clock in Montreal. The Belgian sensation was the hot favourite and has rarely tasted d...

Filippo ganna has admitted he has no sour grapes when he looks back on the 2026 World Championships time trial. He didn't come for a silver medal, but will have to settle for just that after a monster Remco Evenepoel ride came with the same result. A fourth world title in a row for the Belgian seeme...