Mike O'Connor
Australia has a new UCI world champion, with Felicity Wilson-Haffenden taking gold in the U23 Women’s Individual Time Trial at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships in Montréal.
The 21-year-old Tasmanian produced a time of 27:40.72 for the 20.3km course, finishing 28.47 seconds ahead of Dutch rider Nienke Vinke. Belgium’s Luca Vierstraete took bronze.
Wilson-Haffenden was close to Vinke at the opening time check but steadily extended her advantage through the second half of the course to claim the rainbow jersey.
The result adds another major title to an already impressive young career. Wilson-Haffenden won the junior individual time trial world title in Glasgow in 2023 and was part of Australia’s winning mixed relay team at the 2025 World Championships in Kigali.
“To sit here now, three years later with already three world titles, I never would have believed it to be honest,” Wilson-Haffenden said after the race.
“This is a really big win for me; to pace something well, it’s something I struggle with.”
“To be honest, I did explode myself a little bit on the way out. The tailwind gets you so excited and the you turn and realise you still have legs and they do actually go lactic.
“I really just tried to give everything but not quite over the limit until I hit that corner. And then I saw the rainbows at the top and I went as hard as I could.”
There was further Australian success in the U23 time trial, with Mackenzie Coupland finishing fifth, 46.99 seconds behind Wilson-Haffenden and less than two seconds from the podium. Sophia Sammons finished 24th, 1:58.18 down on the winner.
For Wilson-Haffenden, the victory is a step up from last year’s fourth-place finish in the U23 time trial at the World Championships in Kigali.
U23 Women’s Individual Time Trial
- Felicity Wilson-Haffenden (AUS) – 27:40.72
- Nienke Vinke (NED) – +28.47
- Luca Vierstraete (BEL) – +45.07
- Viktória Chladoňová (SVK) – +45.96
- Mackenzie Coupland (AUS) – +46.99
Drama in the Men’s Under 23 race
Dutchman Ryan Gal claimed the U23 men’s individual time trial world title, edging Italy’s Nicolas Milesi and Spain’s Héctor Álvarez in a closely fought 31.3km race.
Gal stopped the clock in 37:26.16, averaging more than 50km/h, with Milesi just 7.01 seconds back and Álvarez taking bronze at 11.88 seconds. Álvarez had been fastest at both of the first two time checks but faded slightly over the closing kilometres.
American Ashlin Barry finished fourth, while Denmark’s Mads Landbo rounded out the top five.
Australia’s Wil Holmes was the best-placed Australian in 20th, clocking 39:23.48.
Holmes, the Australian U23 time trial champion, had been identified as one of Australia’s main prospects alongside Cameron Rogers, who was also considered a potential podium contender.
Rogers’ race, however, unravelled before the halfway point. The Australian suffered a chain problem inside the first 10km and, after changing bikes, was unable to shift gears properly. He eventually finished 39th.
“The chain fell off the front chainring not even 10 kilometres in. I was on a really good run. I felt super super fast and had really good legs today – it’s just unfortunate,” Rogers said.
Rogers had arrived in Montréal after a strong season that included victory at U23 Gent-Wevelgem. He’ll now turn his attention to the U23 road race.
U23 Men’s Individual Time Trial
- Ryan Gal (NED) – 37:26.16
- Nicolas Milesi (ITA) – +7.01
- Héctor Álvarez (ESP) – +11.88
- Ashlin Barry (USA) – +33.78
- Mads Landbo (DEN) – +35.73
Mike O’Connor – A keen cyclist, runner and photographer, Mike O’Connor is the Editor of Bicycling Australia. He manages the BA website and social media, and loves promoting the achievements of Australian cyclists.
