Pidcock leads British team at Road World Championships

Great Britain has announced its squads for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, with Tom Pidcock leading the men's road race team and Zoe Backstedt heading the women's challenge. The absence of defending champion Tadej Pogačar is widely seen as a major factor that opens up the men's race. Pidcock, who won the mountain bike world title in August, will bid for an unprecedented double by targeting the elite men's road race on September 27. The 27-year-old will be supported by a strong British contingent, including Adam Yates, Oscar Onley, and Fred Wright. Onley arrives in form after finishing sixth overall and winning the white jersey at the recent Vuelta a España. The men's road race covers 273.7 kilometers and includes 12 laps of a demanding 13.4-kilometer circuit around Mount Royal. Pidcock expressed confidence in the course, stating, "It's a good course for me. I've done well here before." He acknowledged that the absence of Pogačar, who ended his season due to injuries from a crash at the Vuelta, changes the dynamic. "Tadej is the hardest rider to beat, and he's not here," Pidcock said.