The Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal arrives with an extra layer of intrigue this year. The world Championships are just around the corner, so Sunday’s race will give several of the favourites a chance to test themselves on roads that will feature prominently in the Worlds.
It’s a brutal way to spend a Sunday, however. Unless you’re watching, which btw, Canadian Cycling Magazine is. We are on the scene, say hi!
The 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal route
The 215.3-km race is built around repeated laps of Montreal. And, as always, the Côte Camillien-Houde is the main event. The 1.8-km ascent averages eight per cent and has been a favourite launching pad in recent editions. The Côte de Polytechnique and Pagnuelo can create some launching pads, but it’s Camillien-Houde that will tenderize the gams as the race goes on. Although there was definitely an attrition factor at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec, it’s even more so in Montreal.
The finale
The final 600 m rise at roughly four per cent, meaning the winner will either come from a small select group, or solo. Last year, it was the UAE duo of Tadej Pogačar and Brandon McNulty that came to the line, with Pogi gifting it to the American. Since the current (but not for much longer!) world champion isn’t racing in Montreal (although he will be coming to the worlds to support his pals), it’s wide open.
The favourites
But it’s double Olympic champ Remco Evenepoel who heads into the race as an obvious favourite. He took a fine win at the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec on Friday. But there are others like Isaac Del Toro, Paul Seixas, and Tom Pidcock to factor in. And, of course, Osgoode, Ont.’s Derek Gee-West. He seemed to be working for his Lidl-Trek teammate Quinn Simmons in Quebec, but given the Canuck’s climbing prowess, it might be reversed. Former Tour de France stage winner Michael Woods will be leading the national team, and you can expect he will want to test his legs up the climb. Even though he’s been sort of retired, he still has some proper fitness, even if he hasn’t raced on the road much. It will be interesting to see how he fares ahead of the road worlds.
Pinarello 36.5’s Nick Zukowsky will most likely be at the front…a lot, working for Pidcock. There’s also the NSN duo of Guillaume Boivin and Pier-André Côté racing, as well as EF Education’s Michael Leonard. It’s not exactly the kind of course for Modern Adventure’s Riley Pickrell, so he may be on support duty on Sunday, and don’t forget the other five riders on the national team alongside Woodsy.
You can watch the race on either Flobikes.com, or CBC Gem. Racing begins at 10:15 a.m. EDT. Be sure to check back here for a full report, interviews and more. Head over to our Instagram, too!
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