The men's peloton advances on Sunday towards a 273.7 km course in Montreal, with a final hilly circuit taken 12 times.
What you need to know
In the absence of Tadej Pogacar, all dreams are allowed. Double title holder but withdrawn since his fall in the Vuelta, the Slovenian leaves the field open in the world cycling championships, Sunday September 27, in Montreal (from 3 p.m., also to follow on france.tv). With a tiring course of more than 270 km, including 12 laps of the final circuit with three listed difficulties, the expected profile of the future world champion is that of a puncher-climber, capable of swallowing the difficulties of the day, like Demi Vollering during the women's race on Saturday, which ended with the same podium as that of the last Tour de France.
Remco Evenepoel is aiming for an unprecedented double. Now a quadruple time trial world champion, Remco Evenepoel could become the first rider in history to win the time trial and the road race in the same edition of the Worlds. Second last year in Kigali, the Belgian, 2022 world champion, is the big favorite and dreams of imitating Eddy Merckx, winner in Montreal of his third and last world champion title, fifty-two years ago. His teammate Wout Van Aert, with whom cohabitation has not always been easy, however, has the same ambition.
Paul Seixas doesn't talk about age. Five years after Julian Alaphilippe's second world title, another Frenchman is a declared candidate for the rainbow jersey: Paul Seixas. At barely 20 years old (he celebrated them on Thursday), the fourth in the last Tour de France is one of the main candidates for the iridescent jersey. In the event of victory, the tricolor prodigy would quite simply be the youngest world champion in history. To do this, he will be surrounded by a French team totally dedicated to his cause.
Watch out for the flying Mexican. If collectives like the Netherlands, Italy or the United States will be worth watching, single men can shine, like the Briton Tom Pidcock, but especially the Mexican Isaac Del Toro. Winner of the Montreal GP ahead of Seixas two weeks ago, he arrives at the head of a very modest Mexican selection. A free electron, he was designated by Evenepoel as his main opponent.
16km
The accordion continues to play, and it smells like a false note for the group of favorites, once again one minute behind Brandon McNulty. The American is perhaps heading towards a first title for the United States since that of Lance Armstrong in 1993.
21km
Brandon McNulty's gap has halved in half a lap, with one and a half remaining. But the different groups yo-yo, it's difficult to get involved. What we know is that everything remains possible for Paul Seixas. Go Polo!
26 km
Two more laps to go, and Brandon McNulty gained a margin of one minute and eleven seconds. We don't have to wait any longer for Paul Seixas and the other favorites! We remind you that the American is a time trial specialist, and that two of his teammates are in the chasing group, ready to undermine any counter attempt.
29km
Brandon McNulty widens the gap, with 33 seconds (already) ahead of the Paul Seixas group, which includes Giulio Ciccone, Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel, Matteo Jorgenson, Michael Matthews, Santiago Buitrago, Quinn Simmons and Primoz Roglic.
32km
Brandon McNulty on the attack! The American is leaving the leading group, he who won the 2025 Montreal GP. Isaac Del Toro, his teammate the rest of the year at UAE, will not be chasing him. Attention !
34km
Escape complete! Another attack from Isaac del Toro, hyperactive and quite tense in the chasing group. Paul Seixas remains calm. We won't be surprised to see the Frenchman set off a decisive firecracker in the next few kilometers. In the meantime, the leading group is back.
35 km
The hunting group returns to 14 seconds! I think it's time to release this meme, before Paul Seixas goes on the offensive. (Sorry for the spoiler)
37km
Remco Evenepoel is behind the Paul Seixas group, which has still not attacked. The Frenchman is calm, but we won't have to wait too long.
38km
Ben Healy joins Mathieu van der Poel, Quinn Simmons and Primoz Roglic at the head of the race, the group of favorites falls back to 29 seconds. Everything could still change in Montreal.
43km
We enter the last hour of the race, and the situation is as follows: the trio Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Quinn Simmons leads the way. Behind, Ben Healy and Oscar Onley are chasing, 21 seconds behind. At a third level, a group with Paul Seixas, Isaac del Toro, Remco Evenepoel and Wout van Aert tries to come back but caps at 45 seconds.
