Montrealers should brace themselves for delays and detours the city prepares to host an international cycling competition later this month.
About 1,000 cyclists and half a million spectators are expected to participate in the UCI Road World Championships Montreal 2026 between Sept. 19 and 27.
The 13 races will take place on streets across Montreal and the South Shore, with impacts affecting seven Montreal boroughs and one related municipality: Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce, Plateau-Mont-Royal, Le Sud-Ouest, Mercier–Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Outremont, Verdun, Ville-Marie and Westmount.
The major event will require major closures on both the municipal and highway networks, including:
- The complete closure of Highway 10 (Bonaventure), towards downtown, on Sept. 19, 20, 21 and 22, between 6:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
- The complete closure of the Samuel De Champlain Bridge, toward Montreal, on the morning of Sept. 26 and 27.
Public transit will also see changes. Five STM bus routes are expected to be particularly affected between Sept. 4 and Oct. 4: the 80 Du Parc, 97 Avenue du Mont-Royal, 129 Côte-Sainte-Catherine, 365 Du Parc and 480 Express Du Parc.
On the South Shore, RTL services will also be affected, with additional measures planned for race weekend.
More than 2,000 free parking spaces will be available at Chevrier, with free RTL shuttle services to Quartier DIX30 during the Sept. 26 and 27 races.
In the Montérégie, road closures will be localized and temporary, generally lasting about 1.5 to two hours as they follow the progression of the races.
The bike sharing service BIXI announced that it will add more bikes in areas affected by traffic restrictions and offer a valet drop-off service.
Officials are encouraging residents to plan their entire trip before leaving home, including how they will get into Montreal, and to check the championship’s dynamic maps for real-time information.
Drivers can turn to real-time information before and during their trips, including Quebec 511 and electronic highway signs. The cycling championship’s website also has interactive maps with real-time information for each race and affected regions.
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