Katherine Sarkisov and Enzo Hincapie Secure Top 10 Road Race Finishes at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships

The U23 Women and Junior Men were the first to take on their respective road races on the Mont Royal circuit today at the 2026 UCI Road World Championships.

U23 Women

The Under-23 women kicked off the morning of racing, with five Americans lining up for the championships: Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling), Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling), Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team), Kylee Hanel (Portland, Ore.; Aegis X Leaders of Enchantment) and Mia Aseltine (Littleton, Colo.; Comp Edge Racing).

It was a race of attrition from the start of the 134-kilometer day, with 113 riders facing a brutal opening lap. Hanel had an especially tough day, going down in an early crash before fighting her way back into the field. She was caught up in a second crash later in the race, but refused to give in, battling through the setbacks to stay in the race and make it to the finish.

As the race intensified on lap eight, out of ten, Australia and Canada drove the pace, steadily shredding the peloton. The Americans stayed locked in as the field was whittled down. With 31 kilometers to go, Viktoria Chladoňová (SVK), Isabella Holmgren (CAN) and Fleur Moors (BEL) broke clear, opening a gap on the field. Alyssa Sarkisov was part of the Australia-led chase group behind, doing her part to keep the gap within reach. The winning trio ultimately stayed clear, with Chladoňová outsprinting Holmgren for the world title and Moors taking bronze in a field sprint.

In a race defined by attrition, Sarkisov delivered on her goal of a top-10 finish, fighting her way to an impressive seventh place at the line.

Results:

1. Viktoria Chladonova (SVK) – 3:49:10

2. Isabella Holmgren (CAN) – +0

3. Fleur Moors (BEL) – +33

7. Katherine Sarkisov (USA) – +1:10

29. Kylee Hanel (USA) – +8:07

55. Alyssa Sarkisov (USA) – +14:07

DNF. Lidia Cusack (USA)

DNF. Mia Aseltine (USA)

Junior Men

Five juniors started the race this afternoon for Team USA: Enzo Hincapie (Greenville, S.C.; grenke - Auto Eder), Rowan Nistal (Boise, Idaho; Bear National Team), Cormac Nagle (Bolton, Mass.; Hot Tubes Cycling), Kashus Adamski (Bloomfield, Mich.; Hot Tubes Cycling), and Sylvan Garrelts (Brooklyn, N.Y.; Hot Tubes Cycling).

The 134-kilometer race featured ten laps of the demanding Mont Royal circuit, same as the U23 Women, with steep climbs steadily wearing down the field. Several early breakaway attempts came and went as the peloton began to splinter. 

Around the halfway point, Spain’s Benjamín Noval launched his move from the peloton, first bridging to the chase groups before powering across to the leaders alongside Patrik Pezzo Rosola (ITA). With 30 kilometers left, Noval and Simon Defrance (FRA) went together. Defrance appeared to be saving his legs for a sprint, but Noval had other plans. With two laps to go, Noval dropped Defrance for good and time-trialed his way to the finish alone, securing his second world title of the championship. Behind the leaders, the chase group continued to fracture as the race took its toll. By the final lap, only a small group remained in contention for the bronze medal, with Elias Wandel (SWE) taking the sprint. 

A heavily reduced group followed behind including Hincapie who stayed in the fight. He made his final move the last time up Mont Royal helping break up the remaining group, and he powered across the line for an impressive eighth-place finish. Nistal also rode a strong race, staying in the peloton for much of the day before the field finally exploded on the final lap. He continued to fight through the finish as the demanding circuit took its toll.

Results:

1. Benjamin Noval (ESP) – 3:23:35

2. Simon DeFrance (FRA) – +42

3. Elias Wandel (SWE) – +2:12

8. Enzo Hincapie (USA) – +2:26

35. Rowan Nistal (USA) – +3:16

82. Cormac Nagle (USA) – +17:42

DNF. Kashus Adamski (USA)

DNF. Sylvan Garrelts (USA)

To support the USA Cycling National Team, USA Cycling members and fans can donate to the USA Cycling Foundation here.