2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal: Del Toro Beats Seixas and Sends a Strong Message Ahead of the World Championships

2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal: Del Toro Beats Seixas and Sends a Strong Message Ahead of the World Championships
Montréal, Canada — September 13, 2026 — The 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal took place on September 13, with the UCI WorldTour one-day race serving as an important final test ahead of the 2026 UCI Road World Championships. After 214.4 kilometers of intense racing, Isaac Del Toro (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) defeated Paul Seixas (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) in a thrilling uphill sprint to claim victory.
The result further underlined Del Toro's status as one of the leading contenders for the upcoming World Championships, which will take place in Montréal later this month on roads that closely resemble those used in Sunday's race.

Del Toro Wins the Decisive Duel with Seixas
The race ultimately developed into a dramatic two-rider battle between Del Toro and 19-year-old Frenchman Paul Seixas.
The decisive move came on the final lap, when Seixas attacked and managed to break away from the leading group. Del Toro responded and bridged across to the Frenchman, setting up a head-to-head battle for victory.
As the riders approached the final uphill section and then the finishing straight, Seixas attempted to accelerate several times, but Del Toro remained firmly on his wheel. The Mexican rider waited patiently before launching his decisive sprint in the final few hundred meters.
Del Toro proved too strong in the finish and crossed the line first, securing a major WorldTour victory. He completed the 214.4-kilometer race in 5 hours, 13 minutes and 16 seconds, while Seixas finished with the same time.
The victory represents another significant one-day race success for the 22-year-old Mexican and further strengthens his position among the riders to watch at the upcoming World Championships.

UAE Team Emirates-XRG Takes Two Podium Places
UAE Team Emirates-XRG also enjoyed an impressive team performance, placing two riders on the podium.
American rider Brandon McNulty, the defending champion, finished third, 27 seconds behind Del Toro. His result highlighted the strength and depth of the UAE squad throughout the demanding Montréal course.
Quinn Simmons (Lidl-Trek) finished fourth, 30 seconds behind the winner, while Remco Evenepoel (Red Bull-BORA-hansgrohe) completed the top five at 35 seconds.
McNulty's third-place finish means that UAE Team Emirates-XRG once again played a major role in the race after McNulty won the Montréal race in 2025.

Evenepoel Finishes Fifth After a Strong Fight
After winning the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec on September 11, Remco Evenepoel entered Montréal in strong form and was one of the major favorites.
The Belgian rider remained involved in the fight during the final stages and attempted to stay with the leading contenders. However, the repeated climbs and high pace eventually caused a gap to open.
Evenepoel fought back strongly and ultimately finished fifth, 35 seconds behind Del Toro. Although he could not complete a Canadian double, his performances in Québec and Montréal showed that he remains one of the major contenders heading into the World Championships.

A 214.4-Kilometer Test on a Demanding Course
The 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal covered 214.4 kilometers and featured a highly demanding circuit around Mount Royal.
With more than 4,300 meters of elevation gain, the race was designed to favor riders with a combination of climbing ability, endurance and explosive power. The demanding profile also made the event an especially valuable test ahead of the World Championships.
The Montréal race has become one of the most important one-day races on the late-season calendar, and its challenging circuit often produces a selective finale. This year's edition was particularly significant because the 2026 UCI Road World Championships will also take place in Montréal.

Seixas Impresses Against the World's Best
Although Paul Seixas narrowly missed out on victory, the young Frenchman delivered one of the most impressive performances of the race.
At just 19 years old, Seixas was able to attack on the final lap and establish himself among the strongest riders in the race. He then battled Del Toro directly for victory in the closing kilometers.
Although Del Toro ultimately proved faster in the final sprint, Seixas's second-place finish against a world-class field further demonstrated his potential.
His performance is particularly significant with the World Championships approaching. Seixas has been selected as one of the key leaders of the French elite men's team for the Montréal World Championships, making Sunday's performance an important indicator of his current form.

Top 10 at the 2026 Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
The final top 10 were:

World Championship Picture Becomes Clearer
With the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal now complete, attention will quickly turn to the 2026 UCI Road World Championships.
Del Toro's victory is particularly significant because the Montréal race provided a realistic preview of the conditions that many of the world's leading riders will face at the World Championships. His ability to combine climbing strength, endurance, tactical patience and finishing speed makes him one of the riders who could play a major role in the battle for the rainbow jersey.
Seixas also strengthened his credentials with an impressive second-place finish, while Evenepoel remains a major contender despite finishing fifth.
The 2026 UCI Road World Championships will take place in Montréal from September 20 to 27, giving riders and teams only a short period to recover, adjust their strategies and prepare for the biggest race of the season.
The Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal therefore served as much more than another WorldTour one-day race. It was a crucial test of form, tactics and equipment ahead of the World Championships — and Del Toro emerged as one of the biggest winners of the day.
With two weeks remaining before the rainbow jersey is decided, the Mexican rider has already made his intentions clear.