World Cycling Championships 2026: Live report, road race

Who will be wearing the rainbow jersey next season? Mathieu van der Poel, Remco Evenepoel, Mads Pedersen and Michal Kwiatkowski know how good it feels, but for the other riders in the peloton, it's still a dream. Follow the road race live on Cyclingstage.com.

Andreas Leknessund and Biniam Girmay form the breakaway alongside fourteen companions, building a maximum lead of more than 8 minutes.

As the final breakaway riders are caught with just over 106 kilometres to go, Valentin Paret-Peintre attacks. He fails to get away, and then Jordan Jegat gives it a go. Also to no avail.

Several attackers take turns trying their luck, but no one manages to get clear until Anthon Charmig opens up a gap. On the following ascent of the Voie Camillien-Houde, he is joined by a group containing Alex Baudin, Maxim Van Gils, Oscar Onley, Ben Healy, Andreas Kron, Giulio Pellizzari, Christian Scaroni, Santiago Buitrago, Jørgen Nordhagen, Marcel Camprubí and Mathieu van der Poel. Wout van Aert, Brandon McNulty and Primož Roglič also make their way to the front after the summit. There are just under 90 kilometres to go at this point.

When they are caught, Van Aert attacks again. Van der Poel and Onley ride across to him. Charmig and Roglic also make the junction, after which Quinn Simmons makes it six at the front.

At the next passage of the finish line, with six laps to go, they have a 40-second lead. A group containing Remco Evenepoel, Paul Seixas, Giulio Ciccone, Isaac del Toro and many other favourites launches the chase and closes to within 15 seconds, prompting Van der Poel to put in a big acceleration on Chemin de la Polytechnique. Only Onley and Simmons can follow.

For the latest race situation, you can also use the trackers in the slideshow below this article; for the weather conditions along the route, click on the corresponding icons in the interactive weather map.

The race is expected to finish around 15:40 local time (EDT).

Other interesting reads:
- route
- start list
- 2025 UCI Worlds road race
- records & winners
- 2026 cycling calendar