On September 21, 2026, the 2026 UCI Road World Championships continued in Montréal, Canada. The Men’s Under-23 Individual Time Trial was held on the second day of competition, with 67 riders representing 44 nations competing for the rainbow jersey. After a fiercely contested 31.2-kilometre race, Dutch rider Ryan Gal produced a powerful performance in the final section to finish in 37 minutes 26.16 seconds and win the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial World Championship.
Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial: A Fierce Battle Over 31.2 Kilometres
The Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial covered 31.2 kilometres, with both the start and finish located at Jeanne-Mance Park in Montréal. The course took riders across the St. Lawrence River and included the Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, home of the Formula 1 Canadian Grand Prix. The route tested the riders’ ability to maintain power and speed while managing their effort throughout the race.
A total of 67 riders representing 44 nations took part. From the beginning, several leading contenders showed strong form, with Spain’s Héctor Álvarez Martínez particularly impressive during the opening stages and moving into the lead at the early time checks.
Ryan Gal, meanwhile, adopted a more controlled approach. He was not among the leaders during the opening part of the race but remained within striking distance, preserving enough energy for the decisive final section.
Ryan Gal Produces a Powerful Finish to Complete the Comeback
At the first time check after 10.7 kilometres, Ryan Gal was fifth, 11.75 seconds behind the leader. At the second checkpoint after 19.1 kilometres, he had moved up to fourth but was still 9.11 seconds behind.
Despite not being in front during the opening half of the race, Gal maintained his rhythm and stayed focused on his pacing strategy. As the race entered its final phase, the 21-year-old Dutch rider began to close the gap and showed remarkable power on the final uphill section.
Gal continued to produce a strong effort through the final two kilometres and crossed the finish line in 37:26.16, averaging 50.166 km/h over the 31.2-kilometre course.
After finishing, Gal had to wait for the remaining contenders to cross the line. None of them could match his time, confirming him as the new Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial World Champion.
Nicolas Milesi Takes the Silver Medal
Italy’s Nicolas Milesi was the closest challenger to Gal.
Milesi was ahead of Gal at the second time check, but he was unable to maintain that advantage during the final section. He eventually finished in approximately 37 minutes 33 seconds, 7.01 seconds behind Gal, earning the silver medal.
Spain’s Héctor Álvarez Martínez completed the podium in third place. After leading at both of the first two time checks, Álvarez lost time during the final section and ultimately finished 11.88 seconds behind the winner. His bronze medal was Spain’s first in the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial World Championships.
The top three finishers in the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial were:
Winner: Ryan Gal (Netherlands) — 37:26.16
Second: Nicolas Milesi (Italy) — +7.01 seconds
Third: Héctor Álvarez Martínez (Spain) — +11.88 seconds
Ashlin Barry Finishes Fourth
American rider Ashlin Barry also delivered an impressive performance in Montréal.
At just 18 years old and competing in his first season in the U23 category, Barry steadily increased his pace throughout the race. He recorded his fastest time at the final time check and moved up the standings before crossing the finish line.
Barry ultimately finished fourth, 33.78 seconds behind Gal and just outside the podium.
His result was particularly notable given his age and his first-year status in the U23 category. The performance established Barry as one of the young riders to watch in the current generation of time-trial specialists.
Netherlands Wins the Men’s U23 Time Trial World Championship for the First Time in 19 Years
Ryan Gal’s victory was also significant for the Netherlands.
His win ended a 19-year wait for the Dutch team in the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial World Championship. The previous Dutch winner was Lars Boom, who won the title at the 2007 World Championships in Stuttgart.
Gal therefore became only the second Dutch rider to win the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial World Championship, following Boom’s achievement in 2007.
For Gal personally, the victory represents another major step in his development. In June, he won the Dutch U23 Individual Time Trial National Championship, and he has now transferred that form to the international stage by claiming the rainbow jersey in Montréal.
Ryan Gal: All Out in the Final Two Kilometres
After the race, Ryan Gal said he was initially focused on simply producing a good performance. He had been ill earlier in the week, making his preparation for the World Championships more difficult.
As the race progressed, however, he felt increasingly comfortable and was able to execute the performance he had planned.
Gal highlighted the final uphill sections as one of the decisive moments of his race. He still had enough power to accelerate on the ramps, and with energy remaining in the final two kilometres, he decided to give everything he had to the finish.
That final push proved decisive. While several riders had been faster than Gal at earlier time checks, none could match his pace during the closing kilometres.
The 2026 UCI Road World Championships Continue
The 2026 UCI Road World Championships are being held in Montréal, Canada, from September 20 to September 27. The championships feature multiple events for Elite, Under-23 and Junior riders, including individual time trials, road races and the Mixed Team Relay.
In the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial on September 21, Ryan Gal produced a superb final section to overturn the early time deficit and win the rainbow jersey in 37:26.16. Nicolas Milesi took the silver medal, while Héctor Álvarez Martínez claimed bronze.
With the Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial now complete, the 2026 Montréal World Championships will continue with the remaining events, as riders from around the world compete for the next rainbow jerseys of the championships.
