Remco Evenepoel claimed an untouchable piece of cycling history in Montreal, powering to a fourth consecutive elite men's world time trial title. The Belgian mastered a flat, technical 39.2-kilometre course in a commanding 44:53 to become the first man ever to achieve the streak.
A minute clear in Montreal
The course wound through the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve and a series of sharp turns before a sting in the final kilometre. Evenepoel led through every time check, extending a slim early advantage into a chasm. By the finish, Italy's Filippo Ganna had ridden into silver but trailed by 57 seconds, his late surge never threatening the lead.
French teenager Paul Seixas delivered an all-out ride to secure his first elite medal in third, 1:13 back. Any moment of doubt for Evenepoel came early, when he put only nine seconds into Sweden's Jakob Söderqvist. "I thought at the first intermediate that I kind of over-paced," he admitted afterwards.
Four up, one more to chase
The reigning Olympic champion now stands level with Fabian Cancellara and Tony Martin on four world titles. His run began in Glasgow and continued through Zürich and Kigali, but this Montreal ride, at an average speed of 52.4 kilometres per hour, was among his most dominant. Söderqvist crashed on a late corner and lost a potential podium spot, while several expected challengers bled time from the opening sector.
Evenepoel glided through the final corners with time to sit up and celebrate. "It was obviously the goal to come and win here for the fourth time in a row," he told reporters. "It was a big motivation."
He now targets Sunday's road race, hoping to repeat his 2024 feat and hold both world titles at once.
