Vollering wins a thrilling World Championships ahead of Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini

Demi Vollering now has the rainbow jersey. The Dutch rider has been crowned world champion in road cycling 2026 in Montreal after a race where she attacked 38 kilometers from the finish and ended up resolving it in a sprint against Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney. Elisa Longo Borghini completed the podium just four seconds later.

Demi Vollering is crowned world champion in Montreal

After an extraordinary season in which she won the Giro and the Tour, Demi Vollering has added the missing piece. The Dutch rider has been crowned Elite world champion in Montreal after 180 kilometers and a final that was open until practically the finish line.

Vollering and Niewiadoma arrived together at the last kilometer, but with Elisa Longo Borghini closely following them. The Polish rider tried to play her options against a faster rival, but Vollering ended up winning the sprint to secure her first world title.

The race started in Brossard before heading towards Montreal, where a 13.4-kilometer circuit awaited the riders, which they had to complete eight laps. In total, a day with 2,570 meters of positive elevation.

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The Netherlands took on the responsibility of controlling the race for Vollering early on. A breakaway of four riders managed to gain around four minutes, but the Dutch team always kept the situation under control before entering the decisive circuit.

A crash takes Paula Blasi out

One of the moments that marked the race came when there was still a long way to the finish. A massive crash at the front of the peloton affected, among others, Paula Blasi, Kim Le Court, and the reigning world champion Magdeleine Vallières.

Blasi remained stopped for quite some time and ended up abandoning. The Spanish rider later crossed the finish line four minutes behind the main group before getting off her bike for good.

The crash completely broke the peloton and left barely 38 riders in the front group. Vallières also could not recover and ended up abandoning what was supposed to be her home World Championship.

Spain then had to change its strategy. Mireia Benito was one of the first to react, later attacking on Chemin de la Polytechnique in a move that for a few moments included Sara Casasola and Antonia Niedermaier.

Vollering launches the race 38 kilometers from the finish

With three laps to go, the move that ultimately defined the World Championship came. The Netherlands first hardened the race with Puck Pieterse and, just after, Vollering launched her attack.

The Dutch rider immediately opened a few meters over Longo Borghini, Niewiadoma, and the rest of the favorites and began a solo adventure 38 kilometers from the finish. But this time it was not an uncontested display.

Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini began to cut the gap while Vollering maintained a lead that for many kilometers hovered around 15-20 seconds. Juliette Berthet, Marlen Reusser, and Puck Pieterse also remained relatively close, and the situation changed constantly.

On Avenue Pagnuelo, just before starting the last lap, Niewiadoma and Longo Borghini finally managed to catch up with Vollering. Berthet also returned shortly after, and the four faced the start of the final lap together.

Longo Borghini tries in the last lap

As soon as the last lap began, Longo Borghini took advantage of the vigilance among her rivals to attack. The Italian opened a few seconds while Vollering, Niewiadoma, and Berthet watched from behind.

Vollering ended up taking responsibility on Camillien-Houde. Her pace first dropped Berthet and then allowed her to neutralize Longo Borghini. Only Niewiadoma was able to stay with the Dutch rider.

The Polish rider then tried to take advantage of the tactical situation. For several kilometers, she left much of the work to Vollering while Longo Borghini tried to return from behind.

On the last slopes, Niewiadoma even responded to a surge from Vollering and tried to put her under pressure, but neither managed to break away definitively. Three kilometers from the finish, it was clear that the rainbow would be decided between the two.

Niewiadoma managed to place Vollering in front before the last kilometer and stopped collaborating, forcing the Dutch rider to bear the weight of the finish. But after 180 kilometers, Vollering still had enough speed.

Demi Vollering won the sprint and was crowned world champion for the first time. Kasia Niewiadoma, who suffered cramps in the sprint, was second with the same time, and Elisa Longo Borghini took the bronze four seconds later. Marlen Reusser finished fourth eight seconds back, and Juliette Berthet closed the Top 5 at 39 seconds.

The rainbow completes an exceptional season for Vollering after her victories in some of the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour of Flanders, Flèche Wallonne, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Giro d'Italia, and Tour de France.

Top 10 Women's Road Cycling World Championship 2026

1. Demi Vollering (NED) — 4:45:09
2. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (POL) — +00"
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) — +4"
4. Marlen Reusser (SUI) — +8"
5. Juliette Berthet (FRA) — +39"
6. Puck Pieterse (NED) — +1:36
7. Célia Géry (FRA) — +2:55
8. Dominika Włodarczyk (POL) — +4:16
9. Maëva Squiban (FRA) — +5:48
10. Franziska Koch (GER) — +5:51