2026 World Championships Women TT Results & Recap
2026 World Championships Women TT is in the books. The final results and standings are below, followed by our recap of how the race unfolded.
Race Recap
Reusser dominates in Montréal to retain world time trial title
Marlen Reusser left little doubt as to who was strongest against the clock Sunday, powering to the elite women’s individual time trial world championship in Montréal.
The defending champion from Switzerland was the final rider down the start ramp and delivered a dominant ride over the 39.2-kilometer course, stopping the clock in 50 minutes, 24 seconds to claim another rainbow jersey. Great Britain’s Zoe Bäckstedt finished second, 40 seconds back, while Germany’s Franziska Koch took third at 45 seconds.
The course, which included roughly 220 meters of elevation, took riders through Montréal and Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve before returning toward the finish at Parc Jeanne-Mance. The 48-rider field started at 90-second intervals, with intermediate time checks at 10.7, 21.9 and 29.8 kilometers.
Early in the day, China’s Xin Tang established the first significant benchmarks, eventually reaching the finish in 58:44. Mexico’s Romina Hinojosa later lowered the best time to 56:06 as the faster riders began making their way onto the course.
The complexion of the race changed considerably as the favorites took over.
American Taylor Knibb showed her strength early, recording the fastest times at both the first and second intermediate checks before the later starters began reshuffling the standings.
Koch eventually took control at the finish with a time of 51:09, four seconds ahead of Italy’s Elisa Longo Borghini. France’s Cédrine Kerbaol sat third at that point, while Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky and Poland’s Dominika Włodarczyk rounded out the provisional top five.
Then came Bäckstedt.
The British rider had already moved ahead of Koch at the second time check and carried that speed through the closing kilometers. Bäckstedt crossed the line in 51:04.55, averaging just over 46 kph, to take over the race lead.
It did not last.
Reusser was already ahead of Bäckstedt by the third intermediate split, clocking 37:57.59, 13.63 seconds faster than the Briton, and continued to stretch the advantage on the run to the finish.
Reusser ultimately finished 40 seconds clear of Bäckstedt, with Koch another five seconds back. Longo Borghini finished fourth at 50 seconds, while Kerbaol completed the top five at 1:10.
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