Mexico Wraps Up Its Participation at Montreal
The Mexican delegation concluded a week of competition in Canada with representation across the Elite, Under-23, and Junior categories, while also making history with its participation in the Mixed Relay. Isaac del Toro led Mexico’s results with two Top 6 finishes at the World Championships.
From September 20 to 27, Montreal welcomed some of the world’s best cyclists for the 2026 UCI Road World Championships. Mexico arrived in Canada with a delegation of 27 riders competing across different categories and disciplines.
Mexico’s standout result came courtesy of Isaac del Toro, who closed out his participation with a fifth-place finish in the Elite Men’s Road Race, completing the 273.7-kilometer course in 6:17:18, just 14 seconds behind the new world champion, American rider Brandon McNulty.
The Mexican improved on his seventh-place finish from the 2025 edition and once again established himself among the best cyclists in the world.
But that was not Del Toro’s only outstanding performance in Montreal. In the Elite Men’s Individual Time Trial, the Baja California native finished sixth, completing the 39.2-kilometer course in 46:31.96, 1:38.83 behind world champion Remco Evenepoel.
Mexican Women Among the Best in the Time Trial
In the Elite Women’s Individual Time Trial, Romina Hinojosa finished 28th with a time of 56:06.46, while Sara Roel placed 33rd in 57:53.48.
In the Elite Women’s Road Race, Romina Hinojosa and Andrea Fregoso were unable to complete Montreal’s demanding course, in a race where only 49 of the 140 starters reached the finish line.
Sebastián Ruiz Among the Best Under-23 Riders
The Under-23 category also delivered important results for Mexico.
In the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial, Sebastián Ruiz finished 23rd, recording a time of 39:28.10, just over two minutes behind champion Ryan Gal. Ruiz was also the highest-placed Latin American rider in the event.
In the Men’s U23 Road Race, Said Cisneros finished 35th in 4:20:04; Leonel Cisneros placed 75th in 4:28:23; and Michael Zárate finished 81st in 4:29:29. José Antonio Prieto and José Juan Prieto were unable to complete the course.
Meanwhile, in the Women’s U23 Road Race, Mayte Zamudio was the Mexican rider who reached the finish line, placing 61st in 4:04:01, while Paola Reyes and Gissel Borbón did not finish.
Nabyenka Bareño Earns a World Top 13 Finish
One of Mexico’s most notable performances came in the Junior category.
Nabyenka Bareño finished 13th in the Junior Women’s Individual Time Trial, recording a time of 16:18.15 and becoming the highest-placed Latin American rider in the event.
Fellow Mexican rider Gaetana Alhach finished 37th, with a time of 17:08.37.
In the Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial, Emilio Rodríguez secured 22nd place with a time of 26:32.31, while Omar Andrade finished 54th in 28:12.28.
Mexico Also Shines in the Junior Road Races
In the Junior Men’s Road Race, Daniel Moreno finished 24th with a time of 3:26:24, making him the highest-placed Latin American rider in the competition.
Emilio Rodríguez also completed the course, finishing 34th in 3:26:35.
In the women’s race, Nabyenka Bareño was once again the highest-placed Mexican rider, this time finishing 24th with a time of 2:22:42.
Gaetana Alhach finished 40th in 2:30:18, while Natalia Pineda was unable to complete the race.
A Historic Mixed Relay Appearance
Montreal 2026 will also be remembered for a special moment in Mexican cycling history: Mexico competed in the Mixed Relay at a World Championships for the first time, becoming the first Latin American country to do so.
The Mexican team finished 14th, recording a time of 57:41.84, 6:09.56 behind Italy, who claimed the world title.
The Passion for Cycling Is Also Alive in Mexico
The performances of our riders in Montreal are further proof that Mexican cycling continues to grow and that there are more reasons than ever to get on a bike, compete, and dream big.
You too can experience this passion at L’Étape Mexico by Tour de France, a series that brings amateur cyclists across the country closer to the experience and spirit of the Tour de France, taking on unique routes and sharing the road with a community that lives cycling with the same intensity.
At L’Étape Mexico, we will continue to promote and support the development of cycling in our country, creating opportunities for new generations to discover the sport, for more cyclists to take on new challenges, and for Mexico to continue writing great stories on two wheels.
Because behind every cyclist representing Mexico on the world stage today is a story that began with a bicycle, a dream, and many kilometers still to ride.
Montreal 2026 may have come to an end, but the journey continues. Mexican cycling has a strong present and a promising future, and at L’Étape Mexico, we want to keep riding toward it together.
