Isabella Holmgren, a road cyclist from Orillia, Ontario, came close to clinching a gold medal at the world championships but settled for silver in the women’s under-23 race in Montreal. She completed the 134-kilometer race with 2,960 meters of climbing in three hours, 49 minutes, and 10 seconds, finishing behind Viktoria Chladonova of Slovakia. Fleur Moors of Belgium secured the bronze medal.
At 21 years old, Holmgren became Canada’s first medalist at the championships, showcasing her talent in road cycling after previously competing in mountain biking at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She expressed her satisfaction with the challenging race and praised the strong performance of her competitors.
The Canadian team’s cohesive effort played a pivotal role in supporting Holmgren during the race, strategically managing the peloton to create a competitive environment. Sidney Swierenga from Vancouver finished eighth, while Ava Holmgren, Isabella’s twin sister, claimed the 15th position. Other Canadian representatives included Alexandra Volstad from Calgary and Kiara Lylyk from Guelph.
Despite missing out on the gold, Holmgren appreciated the support from the home crowd and her teammates, emphasizing the special atmosphere during the race. The UCI Road Cycling World Championships provide a unique platform for national representation in professional road cycling, distinct from the structure of professional team competitions.
The event gathered over 1,000 athletes from more than 75 countries, with full coverage available through CBC Sports and CBC Gem. The competition in Montreal, hosting the championships for the first time since 1974 outside of Europe, continues until Sunday as part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the 1976 Summer Olympics in the city.