Ashlin Barry wins solo and Héctor Álvarez claims silver at the U23 World Championships

Héctor Álvarez has won the silver medal in the Under-23 road race at the World Championship in Montreal 2026. The Spaniard was one of the main protagonists of a very tough race and finished second, 53 seconds behind the American Ashlin Barry, the new world champion after a great victory by breaking away solo in the last 30 kilometers.

The bronze went to the Norwegian Jesper Stiansen, who arrived in the same group as Álvarez. The result completes an excellent World Championship for the Spaniard, who had already secured the bronze medal in the time trial.

Ashlin Barry wins solo and Héctor Álvarez takes silver in the Under-23 World Championship

The men's Under-23 race was contested over 174.2 kilometers, divided into 13 laps of the Montreal circuit with a total elevation gain of 3,497 meters. A particularly demanding course where the climbs to Camillien-Houde and Côte de la Polytechnique were selecting the group lap after lap.

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The day began with numerous attacks and a large initial breakaway that ended up being neutralized. Subsequently, a group of five riders formed with Samuel Novák, William Heffernan, Mattie Dodd, Kristian Egholm, and Ashlin Barry, who managed to gain more than two minutes of advantage.

The situation changed as the laps went by until Egholm and Barry managed to stay ahead. The peloton began to reduce the gap, and when about 30 kilometers were left, the advantage of both had been reduced to approximately half a minute. It was then that Barry decided to take his chances.

The American left Egholm behind and began a long individual time trial towards the rainbow. Behind, the favorites started to move, and Héctor Álvarez was one of the most active riders.

Álvarez attacked several times in search of the rainbow

About 38 kilometers from the finish, the Spaniard launched one of the attacks that broke the main group again. Later, he managed to break away again alongside Matisse Van Kerckhove, Guus van den Eijnden, and Cameron Rogers, a move that allowed them to catch Egholm while Barry continued alone in the lead.

As the last two laps began, Barry still held about 40 seconds over a chasing group that included Álvarez. The American, however, did not lose pace and also took advantage of the lack of understanding that occurred at times among his pursuers.

The final climb to Camillien-Houde was the great opportunity to catch up. Matteo Scalco, Aubin Sparfel, Niels Driesen, Stiansen, and Álvarez himself formed the selection that chased the American, but Barry reached the last 10 kilometers still with about 35 seconds to spare.

Sparfel made a final attempt 3.5 kilometers from the finish. Driesen initially responded, and shortly after, Álvarez, Scalco, and Stiansen reconnected, but by then the title was practically decided.

Barry was able to enjoy the last meters and crossed the finish line as world champion with a time of 4:17:35. The American, who turned 19 this Friday, also became the first rider from the United States to win the Under-23 men's road World Championship.

Héctor Álvarez was the fastest in the chasing group

The group that contested the other two medals arrived 53 seconds later, and Héctor Álvarez was the fastest. The Spaniard won the sprint to take silver, while Jesper Stiansen completed the podium for Norway. Aubin Sparfel finished fourth and Niels Driesen fifth.

After the race, Álvarez acknowledged the superiority of the new world champion: “Ashlin was simply stronger.” The Spaniard explained that his group tried to chase him down, but Barry managed to maintain the gap until the finish. Despite not achieving the rainbow he was seeking, Álvarez concludes the Montreal World Championship with two medals: silver in the road race and bronze in the time trial.

Top 10 of the Under-23 men's World Championship

1. Ashlin Barry (United States) — 4:17:35
2. Héctor Álvarez (Spain) — +0:53
3. Jesper Stiansen (Norway) — +0:53
4. Aubin Sparfel (France) — +0:53
5. Niels Driesen (Belgium) — +0:55
6. Matteo Scalco (Italy) — +0:55
7. Mattia Negrente (Italy) — +1:19
8. Richard Riška (Slovakia) — +1:19
9. Erazem Valjavec (Slovenia) — +1:19
10. Jack Ward (Australia) — +1:19