Six American riders took on a demanding 180-kilometer elite ladies’s street race on the 2026 UCI Highway World Championships, battling by a quick and dynamic day on the roads surrounding Montréal.
The U.S. workforce featured Kristen Faulkner (Homer, Alaska; EF-Oatly-Cannondale), Kate Courtney (Kenfield, Calif.; FDJ United-Suez), Lauren Stephens (Dallas; Aegis X Leaders of Enchantment), Natalie Quinn (Harrisville, Utah; Mayenne Professional Biking), Alexis Magner (Athens, Ga.; EF-Oatly-Cannondale), and Grace Arlandson (Boulder, Colo.; Aegis X Leaders of Enchantment).
The race started in Brossard, south of Montréal, with about 60 kilometers of racing earlier than the riders reached the primary climb and the difficult Montréal circuit, that they might do eight instances in complete. Quinn made an early transfer, becoming a member of a three-rider breakaway that was ultimately diminished to 2 riders, with Quinn and Marte Edseth (NOR) holding the benefit by the opening laps. The break was finally introduced again by the peloton.
With 94 kilometers to go, a crash on the descent break up the peloton and caught Courtney within the disruption. After getting again on her bike, Courtney and Arlandson labored collectively to chase again towards the group. Regardless of a decided effort, Courtney was unable to shut the hole to the fast-moving peloton and was ultimately pulled from the race.
Stephens spent a lot of the race within the lead group alongside Faulkner, positioning themselves properly because the race entered its decisive remaining laps. Because the tempo grew, Stephens dropped again to the second group whereas Faulkner remained in the primary peloton on the ultimate laps. With just below 40 kilometers left, Demi Vollering (NED) launched an assault on the Mont Royal climb. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (POL) and Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) ultimately bridged throughout to Vollering, forming a three-rider transfer on the entrance.
Longo Borghini attacked firstly of the ultimate lap however was caught and dropped on the climb. Niewiadoma-Phinney made one remaining try to distance Vollering with 4 kilometers to go, however Vollering stayed on her wheel. Vollering led by the ultimate nook earlier than outsprinting Niewiadoma-Phinney to assert the rainbow jersey and the elite ladies’s street race world title.
Outcomes:
1. Demi Vollering (NED) – 4:45:09
2. Kasia Niewiadoma-Phinney (POL) – +0
3. Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA) – +4
21. Kristen Faulkner (USA) – +8:34
40. Lauren Stephens (USA) – +15:31
DNF. Natalie Quinn (USA)
DNF. Kate Courtney (USA)
DNF. Grace Arlandson (USA)
DNF. Alexis Magner (USA)
