Isaac del Toro outsprints Paul Seixas to win Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal
The 22-year-old Mexican rider launched a late sprint from 250 metres out to claim his 12th victory of the season ahead of French teenager Paul Seixas and Brandon McNulty.
Breakaway and mid-race attacks
The Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal took place on Sunday under mixed weather conditions in Canada, covering 214 kilometres across 16 laps of an 11.5-kilometre circuit with 4,303 metres of total elevation gain. An early breakaway of nine riders was allowed a lead of only a couple of minutes before Decathlon CMA CGM, UAE Team Emirates-XRG, and Lidl-Trek combined at the front of the peloton to reel them in with eight laps completed. With six laps remaining, Juan Ayuso, who crashed in Friday's sprint in Quebec, attacked alongside Canadian Michael Leonard and Max Schachmann. Several contenders bridged across to form a larger front group, including Adam Yates, Maxim Van Gils, and Ben Healy. With three laps left, Healy accelerated alone on the Côte Camillien-Houde, forcing a pace increase from the chasing favorites with 38 kilometres remaining.
Frustration for Evenepoel and the penultimate lap
Quinn Simmons attacked on the penultimate ascent of the Côte Camillien-Houde, pulling clear alongside defending champion Brandon McNulty, Yates, Isaac del Toro, Paul Seixas, Tom Pidcock, Giulio Ciccone, and Afonso Eulálio. Remco Evenepoel, who won the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec two days earlier, was boxed in by Toms Skujins during the move, shouting at Skujins and hitting his handlebars in anger. The Belgian rider hesitated initially, allowing a gap of roughly 45 seconds to open before launching a pursuit with Alex Baudin drafting behind him. Evenepoel closed the entire gap over the next 10 kilometres, reaching the chase group with 21 kilometres remaining just as the bell rang for the final lap, while Healy remained 13 seconds ahead.
- Early nine-rider breakaway is caught by the peloton.
- Ben Healy attacks solo on the Côte Camillien-Houde.
- Quinn Simmons attacks, creating an eight-rider chase group as Remco Evenepoel is delayed.
- Remco Evenepoel closes the 45-second gap to join the chase group at the bell lap.
- Paul Seixas attacks on the final Côte Camillien-Houde climb, joined by Isaac del Toro.
- Isaac del Toro wins the two-up sprint ahead of Paul Seixas by several bike lengths.
Seixas attacks and Del Toro counters
On the final ascent of the Côte Camillien-Houde with 12 kilometres remaining, Seixas launched an attack from the front of the chase group. The 19-year-old French rider caught and passed Healy before the summit, with only the 22-year-old Del Toro able to follow his tempo. Evenepoel dropped back after his earlier chase efforts, while poor cooperation among the remaining pursuers allowed the leading duo to build a lead of nearly one minute. Seixas attempted another acceleration on an uphill section four kilometres from the line, but Del Toro responded comfortably to keep the pair together.
Sprint victory and World Championship preparations
Del Toro and Seixas, who finished third and fourth at the latest Tour de France, entered the final straight to contest a two-up sprint. Del Toro opened his sprint with 250 metres remaining, creating a separation of several bike lengths to secure victory. McNulty took third place ahead of Simmons, while Evenepoel finished fifth in the chase group, 35 seconds behind the winner. The triumph was Del Toro's 33rd career victory and his 12th of the 2026 season, following his 55th-place finish in Quebec two days prior. The event served as the penultimate WorldTour one-day race of the season and a direct rehearsal on the circuit that will host the World Road Race Championships on 27 September, where title defender Tadej Pogačar will be absent due to injury.
