“The best day of my life”: Alejandra Neira is crowned World Champion in Montréal and extends Spain’s dominance among the Juniors

Alejandra Neira is the new junior world champion in road cycling. The Spaniard triumphed in Montreal after being one of the main protagonists of the race and resolving a reduced group of five riders in the sprint. Matilde Rossignoli took silver and Anja Grossmann completed the podium.

Alejandra Neira conquers the junior rainbow in Montreal

The junior women's event at the Montreal World Championships ended in the best possible way for the Spanish team. After the title won by Benjamín Noval in the men's category, Alejandra Neira extended the Spanish success with a victory built from an attack.

The race, covering 80.4 kilometers, had a relatively contained first half. Spain was one of the teams that took control and Neira began to show herself when the race entered its decisive phase. About 25 kilometers from the finish, she launched one of the first significant accelerations, notably reducing the group.

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Despite those moves, around 30 riders regrouped again before facing the final lap. That’s when the attack came that ultimately defined the race.

Neira again increased the pace on the Côte Camillien-Houde, and only the Swiss Anja Grossmann, world mountain bike champion, and the Italian Matilde Rossignoli could follow her. The three managed to open a gap and rode together towards the final kilometers.

The lack of understanding among the three leaders allowed Maria Okrucinska, world time trial champion, and the Dutch Mirthe Mons to return from behind. The fight for the rainbow was thus reduced to five riders.

Mons tried to anticipate 500 meters from the finish, but the others responded immediately, and everything was set for the sprint. Okrucinska was the first to launch it, and Rossignoli overtook her shortly after, but Neira still had strength left.

The Spaniard surged past the Italian in the final meters and crossed the finish line in first position to become world champion. Rossignoli finished second and Grossmann took bronze. Okrucinska came in fourth, four seconds behind, and Mons fifth, five seconds back.

"This is the best day of my life! I can't believe it," Neira explained after the victory. The Spaniard acknowledged that Okrucinska's return to the front group made her lose confidence due to the Polish rider's speed, although she ultimately managed to follow her wheel and surpass her.

The victory also allows Spain to maintain the junior women's rainbow jersey for the second consecutive year. Paula Ostiz won the World Championship in Kigali last season, and now Neira takes her place. "She is a good friend and teammate. It's incredible to be world champion after her," pointed out the new champion.

Top 10 Junior Women's World Championship 2026

1. Alejandra Neira (Spain) – 2:21:00
2. Matilde Rossignoli (Italy) – +00"
3. Anja Grossmann (Switzerland)
4. Maria Okrucinska (Poland) – +4"
5. Mirthe Mons (Netherlands) – +5"
6. Edda Bieberle (Germany) – +42"
7. Thaïs Poirier (France) – +42"
8. Justine Baud (France)
9. Amandine Jakob (France)
10. Scout Wellmeier (United States)