INEOS may win its first world title in 4 years - But they have to beat Remco Evenepoel in Montreal time trial
CyclingFriday, 18 September 2026 at 21:30
Before Remco Evenepoel's three time trial World Championships in a row, there was another commanding force in the discipline when it came to the rainbow jersey - Netcompany INEOS.
From 2020 to 2022, the British team took home the World Championships time trial title as Filippo Ganna won in 2020 and 2021 before Tobias Foss in 2022. A team that focuses on the discipline, INEOS over the years have been a formidable force in time trials.
It's been four years since they last won the world title, including in the road race, and a formidable force lies in their way in Remco Evenepoel. The Belgian is the white hot favourite to make it a fourth title in a row after taking emphatic victories in the recent editions.
However, if anyone can turn the tables it's the two most recent winners of the rainbow jersey. They won't be riding in their INEOS team colours, Ganna will represent Italy while Foss is part of the Norwegian team in Montreal.
Sunday's time trial will encompass 39 kilometres of largely flat terrain before a 400 metre climb to the finish at an average gradient of six percent - adding a final moment of suspense for fans and riders as differences could be made in the final push to the line.
Ahead of the big day, we've looked back on INEOS's three-year domination in the discipline before Remco Evenepoel took the baton and ran with it.
Tobias Foss
2022: Tobias Foss
When Tobias Foss won the 2022 World Championships, it certainly turned a few heads. Although a strong time triallist, the Norwegian wasn't expected to be in the medals when the dust settled in Wollongong.
He finished two seconds clear of Stefan Kung and nine seconds ahead of Evenepoel when the final results came through. However, a tricky course lent itself to suiting his credentials.
The 34 kilometre course was largely flat, but featured a technical opening half before a faster final run-in. He was 11 seconds behind Kung and four ahead of Evenepoel at the second timing point, but surged in the final minutes to deny Kung and keep Evenepoel at bay in an emphatic finale.
The Montreal course features several technical sections as well as its fair share of long and exposed straits this time around, drawing some comparisons to that 2022 time trial.
Filippo Ganna, a powerhouse against the clock
2021 & 2020: Filippo Ganna
If Remco Evenepoel is the best time trial rider of his generation, Filippo Ganna is certainly the second best, and he's got two world titles to prove it. Back in 2020 and 2021, it seemed like the Italian was unbeatable.
He has won 33 time trials across his storied career, and the 30-year-old won his first world title back in 2020 at the Imola World Championships. On that occasion, he bested Wout van Aert and Stefan Kung comfortably, putting 29 and 36 seconds into the pair respectively.
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It was much of the same the following year at the Leuven World Championships. Van Aert was once again in second, but this time six seconds adrift. Evenepoel took third place but 44 seconds adrift.
The INEOS powerhouse looked in fine form at the Tour of Britian at the beginning of the month and the time trial has been on his radar since he finished the Tour de France in July.
He and Evenepoel have traded wins in head-to-head time trials against eachother, can Ganna roll back the clock and add a third rainbow jersey to his palmares?
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
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- ???mij18-09-2026
- The third week of the tour is usually pivotal especially with all the mountains You have to believe that Jv would have lost time to remco on those stages - yes remco was lighter and climbing better than years past, but enough to pass Jonas? DoubtfulCrashjames18-09-2026
- Perhaps they'll do 9 more articles, eventually finishing with Italy?
Rafionain-Glas18-09-2026 - "Sex sells" - of course it does, and it always has done. Prostitutes have been around for as long as anyone can remember. But should it sell? When you think with your morality as a human being, there is only one answer - NO. And the fact of the matter is that even though the entertainment industry is full of whores like Sweeny, people in general are better and condemn this. So while it's obvious that you can't eliminate it, that doesn't mean that it should be accepted as alright. Let sport be sportRafionain-Glas18-09-2026
- Chapeau Davide! What a ride. Watch out for this lad at the Worlds, he could well be a factorRafionain-Glas18-09-2026
- Spain ranks 10/14 on this list for total medals. How does that make them a great power, they are not even in the top 1/3?mij18-09-2026
- I wonder if they will sign Sydney Sweeney next. in her latest commercial she appears to be a multi discipline athlete too.mij18-09-2026
- what a great story - he overcame all of that to become what he is.mij18-09-2026
- No doubt Remco's father will e be preparing excuse if he loses the TT.Looking forward to worlds but not the constant excuses and whinging from Remco. You never get excuses or moaning from Pog when he is beaten.paultryan200218-09-2026
- That's true and he'd be feeling confident considering his Tour podium.awp18-09-2026
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