Canyon at the Road World Championships. Chasing gold and other precious metals at Zurich 2024

In the blue riband elite road races, Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands) and Chloé Dygert (USA) both medalled in epic circumstances. 

Coming off the back of a bronze medal in the time trial earlier in the week – a relative disappointment to her – the American raced her signature custom pink Aeroad CFR with the gutsy grit and determination that has defined her career so far. 

"With one lap to go I was shaking so uncontrollably, I didn't know if I’d be able to turn anymore. It was pretty cold," she said of the apocalyptic conditions. 

Despite being dropped from the front a couple of times, Chloé dug deep and rode herself back into condition for the finale, sprinting for the gold medal from a group of six.  

Placing second behind the winner Lotte Kopecky was just reward for a never-say-die performance from the American, with fellow Canyon rider Lianne Lippert (Germany) just out of the medals in fourth. 

"Before the race, I definitely didn't expect this, but now coming away with silver, I'm a little mad that it wasn't gold, but I'm happy,” said Chloé. 

In the men’s race the following day, Mathieu van der Poel defended his 2023 title with valour behind Tadej Pogacar’s unprecedented Triple Crown-winning performance, taking bronze.  

“I did one of my best performances ever, actually, so I can be really happy with it,” said Mathieu. “There was just one rider who was exceptional, but if you take him away, I was almost riding for the world title, so I think I can be very happy with my bronze medal.” 

Profile: Chloé Dygert >>> 

Profile: Mathieu van der Poel >>> 

Canyon’s young stars showed their bright futures with five of the six medals won in the women’s races, and a gold in the men’s U23 time trial. 

In the women’s U23 ‘race against the clock’, Antonia Niedermaier (Germany) followed up her win last year with another gold, while Julie de Wilde (Belgium) took her first worlds medal with bronze.  

In the U23 road race, Puck Pieterse (Netherlands) led a Canyon clean sweep ahead of Neve Bradbury (Australia) and Antonia Niedermaier – an amazing result. 

"I had a really good road season, Spring Classics, and then I did the Tour, of course, and it's just really nice to once again show my shape,” said Puck. “It's good that there's a nice jersey with that, too." 

On the men’s side, Iván Romeo (Spain) of Team Movistar smashed the U23 time trial to win by more than 30 seconds aboard his Speedmax CFR. 

Rider Profile: Puck Pieterse >>> 

There was only one name on everyone’s lips after the junior races in Zurich: Cat Ferguson.  

The 18-year-old British rider did the double in the road race and time trial, showing why she’s considered one of the most exciting talents in the sport. Since the world championships, Cat has already won the prestigious one-day Binche-Chimay-Binche for her new team Movistar. The sky is the limit. 

This year’s Worlds combined the paracycling races again, making for a true festival of racing. 

Canyon’s Ricardo Ten Argiles (Spain) and Ewoud Vromant (Belgium) demonstrated their prowess in the time trial. Ten Argiles successfully defended his 2023 C1 title, and Vromant bettered his 2023 bronze with gold this time around in the C2 class. 

In the road races, Ricardo doubled up on gold with victory in the Men's C1 Road Race and this time Ewoud took home bronze in the C2 class. 

Gold medals: 

- Time Trial: Antonia Niedermaier, Ivan Romeo, Cat Ferguson, Ricardo Ten Argiles, Ewoud Vromant 

- Road Race: Cat Ferguson, Puck Pieterse, Ricardo Ten Argiles 

Silver medals: 

- Time Trial: Antonia Niedermaier, Liane Lippert 

- Road Race: Chloe Dygert, Neve Bradbury 

Bronze medals: 

- Time Trial: Chloe Dygert, Julie de Wilde 

- Road Race: Antonia Niedermaier, Mathieu van der Poel, Ewoud Vromant