The race was wide open, but in the end victory went to the dominant force of women’s cycling in 2026. On Saturday in Montréal, Canada, Demi Vollering capped an unforgettable season by claiming her first world title on a goosebump-inducing afternoon.

The Giro d’Italia Women 2026 winner had to dig deep to add another success to an already remarkable season and career. On the third-to-last ascent of Camilien-Houde, the toughest climb on the course, Vollering launched a powerful attack with 38 km to go. What initially looked like the decisive action was brought back by another queen of the peloton and two-time Corsa Rosa winner, Elisa Longo Borghini who, together with Kasia Niewiadoma, managed to come across before launching a counter-attack that threatened to turn the race on its head.

Vollering and Niewiadoma eventually caught and dropped EL, settling the world title in a tense two-up sprint. The Italian fought all the way to the line to take third, while the remarkably consistent Marlen Reusser finished fourth, adding another outstanding result to her time trial gold.

The Giro d’Italia Women can therefore once again boast a reigning world champion among its winners, following in the footsteps of two of Vollering’s compatriots: Annemiek van Vleuten and Anna van der Breggen. Flanders, Flèche Wallonne, Liège, the Giro d’Italia Women, the Tour and now the World Championships: 2026 is a year Demi Vollering will never forget.