Top cyclists from around globe descend on Montreal for road racing world championships

Montreal is about become the epicentre for the world’s best road cyclists.

For eight days, beginning Sept. 20 through the 27th, the city’s historic cobblestone streets in the old port and the iconic Mount Royal will be transformed into hundreds of kilometres of circuit as athletes from around the globe fight to become the next road cycling world champion.  

The UCI Road Cycling World Championships are one of the only professional road cycling races outside of the Olympic Games where athletes line up for their nations instead of their professional teams. The event will include more than 1,000 athletes from more than 75 countries. CBC Sports and CBC Gem has full coverage of the event.

The 13 events — in distances from 10 to 274 kilometres — will not only feature the biggest names in road cycling in the elite level but also the next generation of stars in the junior and under-23 races.

Magdeleine Vallieres becomes 1st-ever Canadian to win elite race at road cycling worlds

Of interest for Canadians will be Quebecoise cyclist  Magdeleine Vallieres Mill, who can make history as the first Canadian with a chance to defend a world championship title at home. She won the coveted rainbow jersey after winning the elite women’s road race in last year’s championships in Kigali, Rwanda. 

Everything you need to know about the Road Cycling World Championships in Montreal

“It’s such an honour to race at home, I don’t get to do it a lot,” Vallieres Mill said.  “Being able to race in front of Quebec, Canada, all my family and friends, I think will be something incredible.

“I hope that young riders can come watch the Worlds and see that it is possible. We’re coming from Canada and we’re going to be competing against the best. I’m hoping