Enric Mas and Juan Ayuso lead Spain’s squad for the 2026 Montreal World Championships

Spain already knows the cyclists who will seek the rainbow jersey at the World Championship in Montreal 2026. Alejandro Valverde and Gema Pascual announced this Monday the men's and women's elite selections of the Spanish Team, with Enric Mas and Juan Ayuso as the main references among the men and Mavi García and Paula Blasi leading the women's block.

The list was made public in Seville, taking advantage of the second rest day of La Vuelta, and clearly outlines Valverde's strategy for the road race on September 27: Spain will travel to Canada with two leaders and a block built to support them during a race of almost 274 kilometers.

Valverde takes Mas and Ayuso as a double option for the World Championship

The Spanish men's team will consist of Enric Mas, Juan Ayuso, Markel Beloki, Carlos Verona, Iván Romeo, Raúl García Pierna, Marcel Camprubí, and Igor Arrieta for the road race.

Notably, Enric Mas stands out in this selection. The Movistar cyclist is having a great Vuelta a España and will arrive at the World Championship just two weeks after finishing the Spanish round, so his form could make him one of the national team's main options.

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In fact, Valverde has avoided establishing an absolute hierarchy between his two big names. Ayuso will be one of the leaders and Mas will act as co-leader, a strategy with which Spain aims to have alternatives as the race progresses.

"It's better to go with two options than with one," Valverde explained, also highlighting the level shown by Mas during La Vuelta and ensuring that the selection must go to Montreal with the ambition to "aim for everything."

Alongside them, there will be riders capable of taking on different roles during a race that is expected to be particularly tough. Verona brings experience for the tough phases, while Romeo, García Pierna, Beloki, Camprubí, and Arrieta complete a block with options to have presence from afar and protect the leaders as the selection occurs.

A World Championship of 273 kilometers and almost 4,000 meters of elevation

The men's race will take place on Sunday, September 27 and will feature 273.4 kilometers and 3,803 meters of positive elevation.

The peloton will depart from Brossard before entering Montreal, where they will have to complete 12 laps of the Mont-Royal circuit. The repetition of the climbs and the enormous total distance make the route a test of endurance in which the accumulation of efforts can end up being as decisive as the tactical moves in the final laps. The finish will be located in Parc Jeanne-Mance.

Spain will also send two riders to the individual time trial. Iván Romeo and Pablo Castrillo will be the representatives chosen by Valverde to compete for the title on Sunday, September 20.

The time trial will cover 39.2 kilometers and 220 meters of positive elevation, starting on Avenue du Parc and finishing also in Parc Jeanne-Mance. It will be a predominantly fast route, although with numerous changes of direction and a passage through the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve.

Mavi García and Paula Blasi lead the women's selection

Gema Pascual has also defined the block with which Spain will face the women's race. Mavi García, Paula Blasi, Usoa Ostolaza, Mireia Benito, Sara Martín, and Sandra Alonso will be the six Spanish representatives in the road race.

Mavi García will bring experience and arrives in Montreal after winning the elite bronze at the World Championship in Rwanda. Alongside her is one of the Spanish cyclists with the greatest potential, Paula Blasi, bronze in the U23 category in 2025 and a key player in a great season in 2026.

Pascual believes that the combination of both, accompanied by four riders capable of adapting to different scenarios, will allow Spain to face the World Championship with a "strong and compact" team.

The women's race will be held on Saturday, September 26 over 180.1 kilometers and 2,570 meters of positive elevation. After leaving Brossard and reaching Montreal, the peloton will complete eight laps of the Mont-Royal circuit.

The repetition of the climbs should progressively harden a race in which Spain will have several particularly competitive riders when the elevation and fatigue start to make a difference.

In the time trial on Sunday, September 20, Mireia Benito and Paula Blasi will compete. Both will cover the same 39.2 kilometers planned for the men's category.

Spain's selection for the Montreal 2026 World Championship

Men's Elite – Road

• Enric Mas
• Juan Ayuso
• Markel Beloki
• Carlos Verona
• Iván Romeo
• Raúl García Pierna
• Marcel Camprubí
• Igor Arrieta

Men's Elite – Time Trial

• Iván Romeo
• Pablo Castrillo

Women's Elite – Road

• Mavi García
• Paula Blasi
• Usoa Ostolaza
• Mireia Benito
• Sara Martín
• Sandra Alonso

Women's Elite – Time Trial

• Mireia Benito
• Paula Blasi

The presentation of the selections has also served to unveil the new image of the Spanish Cycling Team. The equipment incorporates the logo of Mitsubishi Motors, the official vehicle supplier of the RFEC, while Joma has developed new designs for the casual clothing that riders and technical staff will use during their travels and official events.