Slovak cyclist Viktória Chladoňová won the under-23 women’s road race at the World Championships in Montreal, securing the fifth road world championship gold medal in Slovakia’s history. The 19-year-old Visma-Lease a Bike rider completed the 134-kilometer course in 3:49:10, edging out Canada’s Isabella Holmgren in a two-up sprint after a late breakaway.
Chladoňová’s Historic Victory in Montreal
Chladoňová claimed her first major international title following a decisive move during the eighth of ten laps. She joined an elite breakaway group alongside Isabella Holmgren and Belgium’s Marion Moorsová, who eventually dropped out of contention for the victory on the final stretch. As Holmgren launched her attack roughly 250 meters from the finish line on the uphill home straight, Chladoňová immediately matched the acceleration and powered through a long sprint to take the win in an identical time to the Canadian runner-up, while Moorsová sprinted to the bronze medal 33 seconds back.
“It is an unbelievable feeling and I still cannot believe it,” Chladoňová told the International Cycling Union through tears. “It was an amazing ride and I am so very happy right now. I have to thank everyone who supports me, this title means an incredible amount to me. I really wanted it and trained hard.”
Did you know? Chladoňová’s victory marks only the fifth road world championship gold medal in Slovak cycling history, following Peter Velits’s under-23 win in 2007 and Peter Sagan’s elite hat-trick from 2015 to 2017.
Building on Consistent Podium Finishes
The gold medal caps off a strong run of international championship performances for Chladoňová across multiple disciplines. Earlier this year, she earned the silver medal in the under-23 cyclo-cross world championships. Last year in Kigali, she finished second in both the under-23 road race and time trial. In 2024 at the Zurich World Championships, she also picked up a silver in the junior time trial and bronze in the road race, before narrowly missing the podium with a fourth-place finish in Monday’s time trial in Montreal.
Czech Riders Face Setbacks in Canada
While the Slovak team celebrated, the Czech contingent faced a difficult outing marked by crashes and mechanical trouble. Barbora Němcová finished as the top Czech representative in 36th place, crossing the finish line 10 minutes and 58 seconds behind Chladoňová, while Eliška Kvasničková failed to finish the race. Julia Kopecký, who placed 17th in Monday’s time trial, was forced to withdraw from the start list entirely after suffering a crash during Tuesday’s training session.
“The roads are not very good here, I hit a pothole and had a puncture,” Kopecký told Czech Television. “Fortunately I do not have anything broken, but my shoulder and neck hurt a lot.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the under-23 women’s road race at the Montreal World Championships?
Viktória Chladoňová of Slovakia won the gold medal with a time of 3:49:10.
What was the margin of victory in the final sprint?
Chladoňová finished in the exact same time as silver medalist Isabella Holmgren of Canada, securing the win in a head-to-head sprint after Holmgren attacked 250 meters from the finish.
How many Slovak gold medals have been won at road world championships?
Chladoňová’s victory represents the fifth road world championship gold medal in Slovak history.
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