Viktória Chladoňová wins Women’s U23 road race world title in Montréal

Viktória Chladoňová won the women’s under-23 road race world title in Montréal, going one better than her silver medal in Kigali last year. The Slovak rider finished ahead of home favourite Isabella Holmgren after the pair emerged from the decisive late selection, with Fleur Moors taking bronze 33 seconds later.

The 134km race was run over ten laps of the Mount Royal circuit, with around 2,690 metres of climbing. Chladoňová and Holmgren were both credited with the same time of 3:49:10, while Moors led the next group home. The result backed up Chladoňová’s status as one of the main threats identified in our Women’s U23 World Championships contenders preview.

How it unfolded

The repeated climbing around Mount Royal gradually reduced the field, but the race remained open well into its final third. Australia’s Felicity Wilson-Haffenden was among the riders trying to force the pace with around 53km remaining before the race was disrupted by a sizeable crash at roughly 44km to go. Nienke Vinke, Babette van der Wolf, Sophia Sammons, Kylee Hanel, Anina Hutter, Giada Silo and Abigail Miller were among those caught up.

The attacks became more serious as the race moved inside 40km to go. Ava Holmgren accelerated before Chladoňová made a move of her own, and the Slovak attacked again with around 34km remaining. Julie Bego also tried to break the race apart shortly afterwards.

The key selection formed at about 30km to go. Chladoňová, Isabella Holmgren and Moors opened a small gap and quickly established themselves as the three riders to catch. Behind them, the repeated climbs were taking their toll, with Cat Ferguson, Ava Holmgren, Juliana Londoño, Bego and Paula Ostiz among the riders losing contact with the main chase.

Holmgren continued to press the issue. The Canadian attacked from the leading group with around 12km remaining as Moors lost contact, leaving Chladoňová and Holmgren at the head of the race. Holmgren attacked again with just over four kilometres to go, but could not shake the Slovak rider before the final run towards Avenue du Parc.

That left the title between the two riders who had been central to the final phase of the race. Chladoňová prevailed at the finish to take Slovakia’s rainbow jersey, while Holmgren had to settle for silver on home roads. Both were given the same finishing time. Moors held on for third at 33 seconds, with Mara Winter and Talia Appleton completing the top five on the same gap.

For Chladoňová, the victory reverses the outcome of the 2025 World Championships in Kigali, where she finished second to Célia Gery. Montréal was only the second edition of the women’s under-23 road race to be held as a standalone World Championship event, and the demanding Montréal circuit produced a much smaller finishing group than the sizeable field that began the morning.

Women’s U23 World Championships Road Race 2026 Result