Lotte Kopecky will lead the Belgian national team in the elite road race at the World Championships in Montreal. The 30-year-old from Rumst, world champion on the road already in 2023 in Glasgow and in 2024 in Zurich, will be chasing a hat-trick on Saturday, September 26.

"Lotte is returning to the levels of 2023 and 2024. Of course, every year the level of the international women's cycling movement increases, but I am convinced that Lotte can deliver a great performance and try to win the title for the third time, just as her father-in-law Eddy Merckx did in 1974," said Belgian Technical Commissioner Ludwig Willems to Sporza.

Winner so far this season of Milan-San Remo Women, the fourth stage of the Vuelta Espana Femenina and the Nokere Koerse, over the 180 kilometers of the Canadian race, Kopecky will be able to count on the valuable support of Shari Bossuyt, Belgian national road champion, Justine Ghekiere, Julie Van De Velde, Margot Vanpachtenbeke and Lotte Claes, Belgian time trial champion.

In the individual time trial on Sunday, September 20, we will see both Claes and Kopecky racing, while, somewhat surprisingly, the Belgian Federation will not field the six-rider team in the mixed relay. The decision, according to what was stated by federation official Arne Wallays to Sporza, was dictated by "poor financial and logistical convenience".

Spain also arrives at the 2026 Worlds well-prepared. Gema Pascual, selector of the women's national team, has decided to rely on Mavi Garcia and Paula Blasi who last year in Rwanda finished on the third step of the world podium respectively in the Elite and U23 categories.

Alongside the UAE Team L'IMAD pair in the road race will be Usoa Ostolaza, fourth-placed finisher at the Vuelta Espana Femenina, Sandra Alonso, Sara Martín and Mireia Benito.

The 29-year-old AG Insurance - Soudal Team athlete, two-time national champion this season, is also entered in the 39-kilometer individual time trial. Representing Spain in the race against the clock alongside her will be Paula Blasi.

"We can count on the talent of Paula Blasi, who is having a great season, and on the experience of Mavi, who always prepares very well for these events. With complete athletes like Mireia, Sara, Usoa and Sandra, we will be a united and strong group ready to play our cards and take advantage of the opportunities we will have," said Gema Pascual.