September 29/25 17:23 pm - Canada Has Best Road Worlds Results Ever?

Posted by Editoress on 09/29/25
 

Canada had one of the strongest - if not the strongest - Road World Championships in it's history over the past week in Kigali, Rwanda. Led, of course, by Magdeleine Vallières Mill's magnificent win in the Elite Women's Road Race; the first ever Elite Road world title for Canada. However, Canada had a total of six top-10 results across four categories, showing a depth that has been absent in the past.

In addition to Magdeleine's world title, in the Junior women Sidney Swierenga finished sixth in the time trial and fourth in the road race, sixth place finishes were also recorded by Jonas Walton (U23 men time trial) and Isabella Holmgren (U23 women road race) and a tenth by Ava Holmgren (U23 women time trial). We would be remiss not to also note the 12th place in the Elite men's time trial by Michael Leonard.

However, it was victory of Magdeleine that captured international attention. Canadians have been on the podium before in the Elite road race, with four bronze medals recorded - Steve Bauer (1984), Alison Sydor (1991), Linda Jackson (1996) and Mike Woods (2018) - but the rainbow stripes is an entirely different level.

There have only been two other non-European women to ever win the Elite road title since the event was first held, both Americans, in 1969 (Audrey McElmury) and 1980 (Beth Heiden). [Note: A Russian rider won 1970-71, which I'm including as part of Europe, geographically]

This was a course that suited Magdeleine, one of the greatest Canadian climbers in recent memory. The circuit featured two climbs per lap - the Cote de Kigali averaging 8.1% for 800 metres, and the cobbled 1.3 kilometre Cote de Kimihurura averaging 6.2% that capped out one kilometre to the finish line. After a short descent following the Kimihurura, riders faced a further climb in the final 500 metres to the finish.

The race was one of attrition until Vallières Mill bridged to a lead group of nine with two laps to go. Mavi García (Spain) then initiated the final move with 22 kilometres to go on the second to last time up Cote de Kigali, joined by Vallières Mill and Niamh Fisher-Black (New Zealand). Two others bridged briefly but could not sustain the pace.

In the last lap, the group of favourites, including Pauline Ferrand Prevot (France) and Demi Vollering (Netherlands), was nearly two minutes back, so any challenge was going to come from the remnants of the break, but they were fading fast.

Garcia was the first to get dropped, and then Fisher-Black could not respond when Magdeleine attacked at the base of the Kimihurura. The Canadian rode clear to win by 23 seconds over Fisher-Black, with Garcia holding on for third, at 27 seconds.

Still looking shocked, Vallières Mill told the broadcast interviewer:  "I knew I probably wouldn't win in a sprint against Niamh because she's so strong and we were both really committed to this break, working so hard. Then I saw she was fading a little bit and I told myself I had to go all in now and try something, and it worked out in the end."

Results: Magdeleine Vallieres is Elite Women’s Road World Champion

Swierenga 6th at Road Worlds ITT
Two Top 10’s at Road Worlds ITT for U23 Women and Men
Road World Championships: Elite ITT results

Isabella Holmgren 6th at Road Worlds

Road World Championships: Junior Men and U23 Men Road Race results

Road World Championships: Elite Men Road Race results