Mathieu van der Poel plays down World Championships chances on Montreal course he feels could prove 'a little too difficult'
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By Ben Grounds
Updated 17/09/2026 at 18:19 GMT+1
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Mathieu van der Poel has played down his prospects of claiming a second road race world title, with the Dutchman acknowledging the demanding Montreal course may not suit his characteristics. The UCI Road World Championships start on Sunday, live with TNT Sports on HBO Max.
Van der Poel digs deep to take first stage at Tour of Luxembourg
Video credit: TNT Sports
Van der Poel - who took gold in the 2023 men's road race in Glasgow - marked his return to road racing in winning fashion on Wednesday, claiming victory on the opening stage of the Tour de Luxembourg.
The race has once again formed part of his preparation for the World Championships. In 2024, the Dutchman used Luxembourg as his final build-up to the event in Zurich, winning a stage and placing second overall before heading to Switzerland.
Two years on, he has followed a similar path, returning to Luxembourg after opting not to compete in the recent Canadian WorldTour double header.
But the former world champion believes Montreal presents a different challenge, particularly because of the length of its main climb.
"I think the course is just slightly different. Zurich involved a lot of climbing, but not with one long climb like the one in Montreal now," Van der Poel said after his Luxembourg win.
"The fact that [Tadej] Pogacar isn't participating doesn't change much for me either.
"I think it will still be a little too difficult for me, if you saw which riders were at the front on Sunday."
Van der Poel was referring to the recent GP de Montreal, which used much of the same circuit that will host the World Championships.
Mexican star Isaac del Toro won that race in a two-man sprint against French rider Paul Seixas, with both demonstrating the climbing ability that could prove to be decisive when it matters most.
Del Toro and Seixas finished third and fourth respectively at this year's Tour de France, while Remco Evenepoel took second place overall behind the great Pogacar.
With Pogacar absent from the championship race, those three riders are among the names expected to feature prominently when the decisive selections are made in Montreal.
For Van der Poel, the challenge is particularly significant given his physical profile and record. A three-time winner of both Paris-Roubaix and the Tour of Flanders, he has built much of his palmares on the cobbled Classics rather than sustained mountain racing.
The 'Flying Dutchman' has attempted to address that difference during his preparation, including reducing his weight ahead of the event.
"Just like before the World Championships in Zurich, I tried to lose some weight again," Van der Poel said following his unsuccessful attempt to win the Mountain Bike World Championships.
"I do notice that it makes a big difference when I am two kilograms lighter than in the spring. That is the case now."
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'That tops everything!' - Van der Poel wins epic Stage 21 by MILLIMETRES
Video credit: TNT Sports
Van der Poel returns to the World Championships after taking bronze in Zurich two years ago behind Pogacar and Ben O'Connor, where the parcours featured considerable elevation.
Despite his reservations, Van der Poel is not dismissing the possibility of an unexpected result.
The World Championships have a different tactical character from regular professional races, particularly because riders compete for their countries without the race radios and earpieces used throughout much of the season.
"You never know at a Championship, they can be atypical races," Van der Poel added.
"It's in national teams, without communication, so it's not like other races. I think my chances are slim, but I am looking forward to it."
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Van der Poel reflects on 'dream' Paris win that came true after a year of planning
Video credit: TNT Sports
The depth of the Dutch team could also give Van der Poel greater tactical freedom.
Should the race split apart on the climbs, Netherlands have riders capable of following the major moves, potentially allowing their most established Classics specialist to conserve energy rather than assume responsibility for closing every attack.
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"It is always easier to have that, but I think we simply have the riders who can be there if the final breaks open early. And in that way, we can take the pressure off a bit," Van der Poel said in relation to his strong Dutch squad.
He did add, though, that he is not looking to dictate the team's strategy himself, but will leave the final tactical calls to Dutch national coach Koos Moerenhout.
How to watch the 2026 Road World Championships
Watch live coverage from every event of the UCI Road World Championships with TNT Sports on HBO Max.
TNT Sports is available across all major TV platforms, offering a line-up of up to four TV channels (TNT Sports 1, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports 3, TNT Sports 4), and up to six digital or red-button channels (TNT Sports 5 to 10), and TNT Sports Ultimate plus TNT Sports Box Office HD.
You can subscribe to TNT Sports through HBO Max, BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
2026 Road World Championships schedule and on-air times
| Race | Date | On-air time (BST) |
| Women's elite ITT | Sun, Sep 20 | 13:50 |
| Men's elite ITT | Sun, Sep 20 | 17:35 |
| Women's U23 ITT | Mon, Sep 21 | 13:50 |
| Men's U23 ITT | Mon, Sep 21 | 16:50 |
| TTT mixed relay | Tue, Sep 22 | 13:20 |
| Men's junior ITT | Tue, Sep 22 | 17:05 |
| Women's junior ITT | Tue, Sep 22 | 20:05 |
| Women's U23 road race | Thu, Sep 24 | 13:50 |
| Men's junior road race | Thu, Sep 24 | 18:20 |
| Men's U23 road race | Fri, Sep 25 | 13:50 |
| Women's junior road race | Fri, Sep 25 | 19:05 |
| Women's elite road race | Sat, Sep 26 | 13:50 |
| Men's elite road race | Sun, Sep 27 | 13:50 |
Add TNT Sports as a preferred source here to enjoy more content like this.
Watch and stream the 2026 cycling season, including the World Championships, with TNT Sports on HBO Max
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