How to take in the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal

At the heart of the city’s cycling scene is Le Club, which will help you get the most out of the once-in-a-generation event The post How to take in the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal appeared first on Canadian Cycling Magazine .

Montrealers, along with Canadians from coast to coast, have waited more than 50 years for the UCI Road World Championships to return to the iconic streets of avenue du Parc and voie Camillien-Houde. During the week of Sept. 20 to 27, the city’s Plateau-Mont-Royal neighbourhood will transform into the beating heart of professional cycling, with fans eagerly anticipating a fresh crop of rainbow-jersey winners. Steps from the race course are the open doors of Le Club, not only a cycling café and retail space, but a hub for locals and out-of towners looking to engage more deeply with the sport’s characters and culture.

Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard The cycling hub of the city Whether you’re on two wheels to take in the race course or to maintain a morning ritual, Le Club knows that being at worlds is best on a bike. For those looking to explore on their own or with friends, Le Club has a variety of routes on their website .

In the week leading up to the elite races, try the 99.5-km Monteregian Hills route. You may run into some pros on their training rides as the route touches the early roads of the race course outside of the city. Photo:

Alex Godbout-Simard Photo: David Maman Photo: David Maman Photo: David Maman Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard Le Club hosts no fewer than seven group rides every week. Most start at 6:30 a.m. and typically finish at the café at the corner of Saint-Denis and rue Roy.

There’s a women’s ride every Tuesday, and a gravel ride Tuesdays and Thursdays. Road rides tackle Mount Royal Park and the Gilles Villeneuve Formula One track—which the world’s best will also speed along this September. A place for the world’s top riders to gather Visiting Le Club during the annual Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal means there’s a good chance of running into a WorldTour rider or two.

A popular coffee stop for the pros, the likes of Michael Matthews and Julian Alaphilippe have sat on the terrace with their teammates. Even Tadej Pogačar came during his Monday recovery ride following a win the previous day. Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal course revamped to mirror world championships route This September, expect favourites from the men’s and women’s peloton with their national squads to come through the door.

Athlete interviews, autograph signings and photo ops are a regular occurrence at Le Club, so don’t miss out on a chance to meet some of the fastest bike racers in a fun and laid-back environment. Check out their website closer to worlds for more details about how they will be activating their space. Weekend watch party Before turning onto avenue du Parc and crossing the finish line, the route for the world championships takes riders along rue Saint-Urbain, only 850 m from the doors of Le Club.

So if hiking up Camillien-Houde isn’t your thing, but you still want to be close to the action, the café will have live watch parties throughout the weekend. Grab a cold drink and take a break from the hot sun to watch every attack and counter-attack in the café or on the terrace. In Canada, where we’re used to watching the biggest races alone on our laptops as the sun rises, you should really relish this opportunity to soak in a slice of cycling history shoulder to shoulder with 150 other fans.

Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard Come hungry and bring home a piece of the action Along with typical espresso-based drinks that are a staple at every cyclist’s favourite café , Le Club serves up delicious baked goods and breakfast sandwiches that will have you skipping your hotel’s continental breakfast.

Try the smoked salmon served on a brioche bun or the salted caramel almond croissant. If you’ve finished your ride and are looking to relax, the beer and wine selection is also impressive. Photo:

Alex Godbout-Simard Photo: Ovidiu Zahara Photo: Stéph Greg Photo: Stéph Greg Their offerings, however, don’t stop there, as Le Club carries a bespoke selection of cycling clothing and accessories, such as shoes and helmets from top brands in the industry.

Over the years, their collaborations with brands have stood out and represent the culture and community in Montreal. Special edition merchandise will be available commemorating the 2026 UCI Road World Championships, giving visitors the opportunity to take a piece of the action home with them after the champagne has been uncorked and the roadside barricades have been taken down. Photo: Ovidiu Zaharia Photo: Alex Godbout-Simard Photo: Ovidiu Zahara For a generation of Canadian cycling fans, the return of the world championships to Montreal is a once-in-a-lifetime event.

The winners will be remembered, but so too will the early morning rides, the crowded terraces and the conversations shared over coffee as the sport’s biggest week unfolds. In a city that has spent decades waiting for worlds to return, Le Club is where many of those memories will be made. The post How to take in the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal appeared first on Canadian Cycling Magazine .