Benjamín Noval announces himself on world stage with historic Montréal double

Benjamín Noval completed a remarkable week at the World Championships in Montréal by winning the junior men’s road race, attacking with 27 kilometres remaining and riding alone to a second rainbow jersey in three days.

The Spaniard crossed the line 38 seconds ahead of Simon Defrance of France, while Sweden’s Elias Wändel led the next group home two minutes later to claim bronze.

Noval had already won the junior time trial on Tuesday and becomes the first rider since Remco Evenepoel in 2018 to win both junior world titles in the same year.

Matej Mohorič, Roman Kreuziger and Oleksandr Kvachuk are the only other riders to have won the junior road race while also medalling in the time trial at the same World Championships.

The double places Noval in rare company at the end of a season that has confirmed his status among the standout riders of his generation. He will step up to Netcompany-Ineos next season.

Murat Kuitenov (Kazakhstan) was the first rider to go clear, attacking alone in the opening kilometres before a four rider break formed behind with Sindre Orholm-Lønseth, Lancelot Gayant, Luca Martinez and Carter Deveer. Sander Willems later bridged across with 77 kilometres remaining.

Gayant and Orholm-Lønseth emerged as the strongest riders from the early move and stayed clear through the middle part of the race, building an advantage of just under a minute. Their lead began to come under pressure with three laps remaining, when a powerful chase group featuring Noval, Defrance, Brandon Fedrizzi, Patrik Pezzo Rosola, Julius Løvstrup Birkedal and Kings made contact.

Noval had already tested his rivals twice before making the decisive move. He attacked with 65 kilometres remaining and again at 33 kilometres to go, but was unable to get clear on either occasion.

His third acceleration proved decisive. With 27 kilometres remaining, Noval attacked on the ninth of ten ascents of the Voie Camillien-Houde, a 1.6 kilometre climb averaging 7.6 per cent, and this time no one could follow.

With 21 kilometres to go, the Spaniard had opened a 26 second advantage over Gayant and Defrance. Gayant faded on the final lap, leaving Defrance alone in pursuit, but the Frenchman was still 25 seconds behind with 18 kilometres remaining and never managed to close the gap.