The roster is completed by Harold Tejada, Sergio Higuita, and Brandon Rivera. The latter will also take on a second assignment, starting the individual time trial together with Walter Vargas, with Colombia holding two spots in the discipline.
Nairo Quintana, present for a special occasion
Including Nairo Quintana adds a symbolic dimension to the Colombian selection. The 36-year-old Movistar Team rider is in the closing stretch of a career that made him one of the premier climbers of his generation and the first Colombian to win both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.
His presence in Montreal brings the Boyacá native back to the World Championships, though the team goal will take precedence over any individual ambition. Quintana also embodies the bridge between eras in Colombian cycling, having paved the way for many of today’s elite riders.
Harold Tejada and Egan Bernal
Bernal and Buitrago, Colombia’s cards for the result
Egan Bernal will be another of Colombia’s major references. The Netcompany Ineos rider arrives after an uneven season, but his ability to perform in the toughest races remains intact. His Grand Tour experience and wins at the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia make him a threat whenever the route encourages a natural selection.
Santiago Buitrago completes the core of Colombian contenders. The Bahrain Victorious rider has been one of the protagonists at the Vuelta a España 2026 and reaches the Worlds at a key point in his season.
His knack for thriving in reduced groups and attacking from range could be decisive in a race likely to reward patience and tactical reading.
Tejada, Higuita and Rivera round out the block
Harold Tejada will bring experience and work rate to the Colombian lineup. The XDS Astana rider is also racing the Vuelta a España, where he has again shown his reliability on demanding terrain. Sergio Higuita, his teammate, offers another option for a squad built with varied profiles to handle multiple race scenarios.
Brandon Rivera will complete the road race sextet and also start the individual time trial. The Netcompany Ineos rider will share that responsibility with Walter Vargas, the Colombian specialist who rounds out the national representation against the clock.
Colombia will approach Montreal with a balance of veterans and emerging leaders. Nairo Quintana brings the weight of a historic generation, while Bernal and Buitrago will shoulder much of the sporting expectation. The aim is to play the different cards in a race that may open chances for pure climbers and riders able to anticipate the final selection.
Colombia’s selections for the Montreal 2026 World Championships
| Rider | Team |
| Nairo Quintana | Movistar Team |
| Egan Bernal | Netcompany Ineos |
| Santiago Buitrago | Bahrain Victorious |
| Harold Tejada | XDS Astana |
| Sergio Higuita | XDS Astana |
| Brandon Rivera | Netcompany Ineos |
| Walter Vargas | Medellin EPM |