Remco Evenepoel secured his fourth career world time trial title on Sunday, September 20, 2026, in Montreal, Canada, defeating Italy’s Filippo Ganna by 57 seconds and France’s Paul Seixas by 1 minute and 13 seconds across a demanding 39-kilometer course. According to race reports, the Belgian specialist averaged nearly 54 kilometers per hour to finish with a winning time of 44:53, becoming the only rider to capture four consecutive world championships in the discipline.
With this victory, Evenepoel joins an elite group of riders who have earned four world time trial gold medals, alongside Switzerland’s Fabian Cancellara and Germany’s Tony Martin.
Racing on a 39-kilometer course where large gear ratios were required, Evenepoel immediately set a blistering pace. Reports indicate he systematically dismantled intermediate time checks while his closest rivals struggled to find a rhythm.
How the Race Unfolded on the Montreal Course
Filippo Ganna endured a conservative opening phase that effectively ended his chances of challenging for the top step of the podium. Ganna mounted a late resurgence in the final third of the race, but by then Evenepoel was competing in a different tier altogether.
Jakob Söderqvist provided the primary early challenge to the defending champion. The Swedish rider held second position through the opening two time checks, staying within striking distance before Evenepoel’s intermediate advantage swelled to 34 seconds at the halfway point. Söderqvist’s strong ride came undone with just 2.5 kilometers remaining when he crashed on a sweeping corner, eliminating him from podium contention and clearing the path for 19-year-old French talent Paul Seixas to claim the bronze medal.
Evenepoel crossed the finish line in 44:53, outstripping Ganna by nearly a full minute. “Ese era el objetivo, evidentemente, una enorme fuente de motivación. Estoy muy contento. Ha sido una experiencia magnífica, una forma estupenda de empezar estos campeonatos,” Evenepoel stated, as documented by El Espectador.
A Historic Season and Next Objectives
The time trial victory cements Evenepoel’s dominance in the discipline. Coverage from El Espectador notes that the Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe rider has now won 12 of his last 13 individual time trials, with his only blemish being an atypical mountain test at Peyragudes during the previous year’s Tour de France before he withdrew from the race. His 2026 campaign also features victories at the Amstel Gold Race, the Clásica de San Sebastián, and the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec.
Attention now turns to the upcoming road race. Evenepoel enters Sunday’s premier road event as one of the top favorites, joined in the contender pool by Seixas, Mexico’s Isaac Del Toro—who finished a strong sixth in the time trial—Wout Van Aert, and Mathieu van der Poel. Slovenian star Tadej Pogačar is absent from the competition due to injury.
“Ahora tengo bastante tiempo para recuperarme,” Evenepoel noted regarding his preparation for the upcoming road race, per El Espectador.
Worth a look
