September 26, 2026 - (Montreal, Que.) The Netherlands Demi Vollering claimed her first UCI Road World Championships Elite Women’s road race title in Montréal out-sprinting Poland’s Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney to the line in a two-up finale, with Italy’s Elisa Longo-Borghini taking the bronze.
The top Canadian was Sarah Van Dam making the top 20 finishing in 17th while her teammate, Magdeliene Vallières, the defending champ, did not finish a victim of one of several crashes that marred the race.
Longo-Borghini tested the field early on in the 180km contest, eight laps of a 13.4km circuit that included the Voie Camillien-Houde climb. But Vollering reeled her in and only Niewiadoma-Phinney could maintain her pace as the duo set the stage for the final drama to come.
On the final lap Longo-Borghini surged again trying in vain to join the leaders as Marlen Reusser also showed some gusto threatening for the bronze. But in the end, it was Niewiadoma-Phinney striking first with 300m to go but Vollering was ready and pounced as she passed her rival for another big win in her stellar career.
“It still hasn’t sunk in, “ said Vollering, 29, at the finish. “I’ve worked so hard towards this goal and I’m so proud of everybody from the team.”
Results
1. Demi Vollering (Netherlands) 4:45:09
2. Kasia Niewiadoma (Poland) 0:17
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (Italy) 0:04s
4. Marlen Reusser (Switzerland) 0:08
5. Juliette Berthet (France) 0:39
6. Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) 1:36
7. Célia Gery (France) 2:55
8. Dominika Włodarczyk (Poland) 4:16
9. Maeva Squiban (France) 5:48
10. Franziska Koch (Germany) 5:51
Full results here.
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