Pogacar backs del Toro and Merckx declares Belgium confidence - 16 former world champions give their prediction for the 2026 World Championships
Cycling
Cycling's greatest World Championships winners believe that Remco Evenepoel, Isaac del Toro, Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert are the big favourites to take home the rainbow jersey in Montreal on Sunday evening.
As the men's road race pulls down the curtain on the championships in spectacular fashion, the cycling world awaits a new world champion in a race without Tadej Pogacar, who misses out after his season-ending Vuelta a Espana crash.
With van der Poel the last to win the race before Pogacar, it's anticipated that the 2026 edition will be one of the most open affairs in recent years as multiple riders and nations fancy their chances in Canada.
French publication l'Equipe have polled 16 former world champions for their predictions, including Pogacar, Eddy Merckx, Greg LeMond and Stephen Roche. The results signal that three riders in particular are considered the front-runners, with one contender notably not backed by cycling legends.
The big contenders for the 2026 World Championships
Evenepoel most common prediction among legends
Evenepoel is the most fancied of the bunch, receiving five votes of confidence. Mathieu van der Poel was favoured by four, Mexican rider del Toro got three votes and Evenepoel's Belgium teammate van Aert also received three nods.
Notably, just one former champion asked in Luc Lebanc picked Paul Seixas to take victory while Thor Hushovd picked his Uno-X Mobility rider Tobias Johannessen to win the race.
Tadej Pogacar unsurprisingly chose his UAE Team Emirates - XRG teammate del Toro to follow in his footsteps. He was joined by Greg LeMond and Rui Costa in backing the young attacker.
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Eddy Merckx offered two picks - Evenepoel and van Aert. Elsewhere, Philippe Gilbert, Oscar Freire, Gianni Bugno and Alessandro Ballan are among those who think the Red Bull rider will wins a second rainbow jersey on road.
Mathieu van der Poel is a dangerous rider to watch after his dramatic Luxembourg solo effort last weekend, convincing Joop Zoetemelk, Freddy Maertens, Laurent Brochard and Guiseppe Saronni that he's the man to beat.
Wout van Aert is another outside bet as Stephen Roche and Johan Museeuw rowed in behind the Visma rider, who this year won Paris Roubaix.
Former world champions predict 2026 winner
| Former World Champion | 2026 road race prediction |
| Eddy Merckx | Remco Evenepoel or Wout van Aert |
| Freddy Maertens | Mathieu van der Poel |
| Greg LeMond | Isaac Del Toro |
| Philippe Gilbert | Remco Evenepoel |
| Johan Museeuw | Wout van Aert |
| Joop Zoetemelk | Mathieu van der Poel |
| Stephen Roche | Wout van Aert |
| Luc Leblanc | Paul Seixas |
| Laurent Brochard | Mathieu van der Poel |
| Oscar Freire | Remco Evenepoel |
| Rui Costa | Isaac Del Toro |
| Gianni Bugno | Remco Evenepoel |
| Alessandro Ballan | Remco Evenepoel |
| Giuseppe Saronni | Mathieu van der Poel |
| Thor Hushovd | Tobias Halland Johannessen |
| Tadej Pogačar | Isaac Del Toro |
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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- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
- I'm picking .... .... Never mind 🫥flyer07-11-2026
- If Tiberi has a better and more consistent 2027 I somehow doubt it will be because of this victorious warning. Unless his preparation has been off, cycling isn't football.flyer07-11-2026
- Love this guy. He is such a pure racer.mij07-11-2026
- Fair enough. Everyone’s entitled to one and I respect yours! Nothing wrong with being a one week and GT guy if that’s his vibemij07-11-2026
- LOL...it's a predetermined finish ! N one is 'clashing' at these exhibition crits!frieders307-11-2026
- Surely the UCI and the race organisers have a responsibility to ensure the best medical care is available to riders when incidents like this happen. All very well pushing for global expansion but not so good if riders lives are put at risk because medical support is not up to scratch.Andy12306-11-2026
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