In what was described by the commentators as one of the most sensational performances in the history of the UCI Road World Championships, Ashlin Barry of the United States rode to victory in the Men U23 Road Race at the 2026 UCI Road Worlds in Montreal on Friday.
The win marked the first for the USA in the U23 men's race, which was held for the first time in 1996.
Until Barry crossed the line at the end of the 174.2-kilometer journey, the Americans had only claimed one medal in the event - a bronze by Taylor Phinney in 2010.
For cycling fans in the United States, all of the competition at the 2026 UCI Road Worlds is being broadcast live on FloBikes and the FloSports app.
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Barry, who turned 19 on Friday, became the second rider this year to win a race on his birthday, joining Switzerland's Marlen Reusser, who won the Women Elite Time Trial last Sunday on her 35th birthday.
The newest world champion comes from elite cycling lineage as the son of two former professional cyclists, Dede and Michael Barry.
Though Ashlin was born in Spain, his father is from Toronto, and his mother is from Milwaukee in the United States. Ashlin's own biking career began after moving to Toronto in 2012, and he competed in cyclocross and track events before finding success across all disciplines.
As a dual citizen of the United States and Canada, the younger Barry had the opportunity to choose which country he'd ride for when he began competing internationally. He made his decision at age 16 based on the experience his mother had while competing for the United States, but getting to race, and win, in Canada was the realization of the longtime dream.
Earlier this week, he finished fourth in the Men U23 Individual Time Trial at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, missing the podium by 22 seconds.
In dominating the road race Friday, Barry was part of an initial large breakaway group, but he attacked with 129 kilometers to go, and the gold medal never seemed to be in jeopardy. It ended up being the longest solo victory in the U23 men's race in two decades.
The silver medal went to Spain's Hector Alvarez, who finished 53 seconds behind Barry. Jesper Stiansen of Norway also was part of the chasing group and edged Aubin Sparfel of France for the bronze medal. Alvarez also found success in the time trial this week, taking the bronze medal.
Through Sept. 27, athletes from 100 nations will hit the Canadian streets for gender-based road races in three divisions, and Slovakia's Viktória Chladoňová became the first to pull on the coveted rainbow jersey when she won the Women U23 Road Race on Thursday.
The Elite women will be in action Saturday morning, and this year's Road Worlds will conclude Sunday with the Men Elite Road Race, which will get underway at 9 a.m. Eastern.
Read More:
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2026 UCI Road Worlds Men U23 Road Race Results – Top 25
- Barry Ashlin (United States) – 4:17:35
- Héctor Álvarez (Spain) – 4:18:28
- Jesper Stiansen (Norway) – 4:18:28
- Aubin Sparfel (France) – 4:18:28
- Niels Driesen (Belgium) – 4:18:30
- Matteo Scalco (Italy) – 4:18:30
- Mattia Negrente (Italy) – 4:18:54
- Erazem Valjavec (Slovenia) – 4:18:54
- Richard Riška (Slovakia) – 4:18:54
- Jack Ward (Australia) – 4:18:54
- Daan Dijkman (Netherlands) – 4:18:54
- Marcis Shelton (United States) – 4:18:54
- Bogdan Zabelinskiy (Cyprus) – 4:18:54
- Daniel Filipe Vieira Moreira (Portugal) – 4:18:54
- Jurgen Zomermaand (Netherlands) – 4:18:54
- Matisse Van Kerckhove (Belgium) – 4:18:54
- Matteo Vanhuffel (Belgium) – 4:18:54
- Mateo Ramírez (Ecuador) – 4:18:54
- Melk Zumstein (Brazil) – 4:18:54
- Henrique Bravo (Switzerland) – 4:18:54
- Moritz Mauss (Germany) – 4:19:05
- Patrick Boje Frydkjær (Denmark) – 4:19:06
- Viktor Soenens (Belgium) – 4:19:08
- Elliot Rowe (Great Britain) – 4:20:04
- David Haverdings (Netherlands) – 4:18:54
The start list for the Men U23 Road Race included 176 riders.
How To Watch The 2026 UCI Road World Championships
For viewers in the United States, the 2026 UCI Road World Championships will be streaming on FloBikes and the FloSports app.
Highlights, race replays and breaking news will be available on both platforms.
Stage highlights, replays and more breaking news, including recaps and rider interviews, will be on both platforms.
Road Race Schedule For 2026 UCI Road World Championships
All Times Eastern
- Sept. 24 – Women’s U23 Road Race (Parc Jeanne Mance), 9 a.m.
- Sept. 24 – Men’s Junior Road Race (Parc Jeanne Mance), 1:30 p.m.
- Sept. 25 – Men’s U23 Road Race (Parc Jeanne Mance), 9 a.m.
- Sept. 25 – Women’s Junior Road Race (Parc Jeanne Mance), 2:15 p.m.
- Sept. 26 – Women’s Elite Road Race (Quartier Dix30 – Parc Jeanne Mance), 9 a.m.
- Sept. 27 – Men’s Elite Road Race (Quartier Dix30 – Parc Jeanne Mance), 9 a.m.
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