Four in a row: Evenepoel makes time trial history

Remco Evenepoel further cemented his status as a time trial legend in Montréal on Sunday, claiming a fourth consecutive world title to add to his Olympic gold with another stunning display, matching Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin’s overall tally of four titles.

The Belgian and Filippo Ganna started as the leading contenders in a star-studded individual time trial, and both lived up to expectations. The Giant of Verbania, who won the Viareggio–Massa time trial at this year’s Giro d’Italia over a distance and profile virtually identical to those in Canada, put the immense power of his imposing frame to full use to claim silver. But even that was not enough: Remco was simply unstoppable.

Evenepoel took victory by almost a minute and now has his sights set on a double – with the road race coming up on 27 September – that could, perhaps, see him line up at Il Lombardia for the first time wearing the rainbow bands he previously claimed in 2022. “A nice start – we’ll focus on the road race from Tuesday”, he admitted after the race.

Paul Seixas completed the podium, rounding off a dream season whose major Classics campaign began with second place at Strade Bianche. Isaac del Toro, one of the main favourites for the road race, finished sixth. Just behind him came several other recent stage winners at the Corsa Rosa, including Kasper Asgreen (8th), Daan Hoole (9th) and Alec Segaert (11th).

Reusser’s happiest birthday

And from Kigali to Montréal, she has done it again. In the women’s Elite event, Marlen Reusser became the tenth rider in the history of the World Time Trial Championships to win multiple titles, retaining the rainbow jersey in emphatic fashion with another dominant performance.

The Swiss rider grew stronger as the race went on – “I was never quite sure what pace to follow,” she admitted afterwards – and overturned a powerful opening split from the prodigiously young Zoe Bäckstedt, who took silver, to finish almost a minute ahead of the Briton and eventual bronze medallist Franziska Koch of Germany. Two-time Giro d’Italia Women winner Elisa Longo Borghini missed out on a medal by just 5”, finishing fourth.

Reusser, the first leader of the 2025 Giro d’Italia Women and denied the final Maglia Rosa last year only by ‘ELB’s’ brilliant response on Monte Nerone, bounced back from the physical collapse she suffered at the end of the 2026 Tour de France to celebrate her 35th birthday with a resounding victory.

This year’s Corsa Rosa winner, Demi Vollering, finished eighth, just behind Germany’s Antonia Niedermaier, who was second on the final finish line in Saluzzo last June and placed seventh in Montréal on Sunday. The other Italian rider in the race, Vittoria Guazzini, finished 10th.