Not for a long time have GB men a better chance to win the road race, with double world champion and record-equalling five-time Tour de France winner Tadej Pogacar forced to sit out the rest of the season after suffering multiple injuries in a crash at the Vuelta a Espana. Slovenian Pogacar has dominated the world road race for the past two years, winning in 2024 and 2025 to add to his numerous other honours.

The time trials come first in Montreal, with riders setting off at one-minute intervals, racing against the clock. Backstedt steps up to the elite category after winning last year's Under-23 race and is joined by Anna Morris, 31, who has won a number of domestic races in 2026.

In the men's time trial Hayter, who came second in the opening time trial of the recent Vuelta a Espana, losing out to Pogacar by just nine hundredths of a second, will be joined by Callum Thornley, while the favourite will be defending champion Remco Evenepoel of Belgium.

Performance director for British Cycling Stephen Park said: "The Road World Championships are always one of the standout events in the cycling calendar, and we are excited to return with a highly competitive squad. This squad showcases the very best of British road racing, at a time when more British riders are making their mark across Europe and on the wider international stage than ever before. We're proud of the balance in this squad, from established world-class performers to riders taking the next step in their development."