It’s almost like we never left Paris. Albeit with some loftier mountains, the podium stayed remarkably similar at the UCI Road and Para-cycling World Championships in Zürich. Remco Evenepoel and Grace Brown once again proved their mettle, winning championship titles at their respective Elite Time Trial races. Completing the dream that started in Paris—or Nice—appeared to be this year’s Worlds theme.

Let’s dive into the races and the riders of this year’s UCI Road and Para-cycling World Championships!

The word prodigious would almost be an understatement.

Remco Evenepoel’s ascent to the very best of the cycling world is nothing short of awe-inspiring. His cycling career began in a local Belgian team—or talent factory, as it’s sometimes called—together with Jasper Philipsen: Forte Young CT in 2017.

The young man from East Flanders—colloquially the Flandrien—took home the U23s Rainbow Jersey in 2018. A series of victories and podiums later representing Soudal-Quick Step, the next Rainbow Jersey came in 2022 at the Elite Road Race, the same year Evenepoel won the Vuelta. Remco also took home the Rainbows for the Time Trial a year later.

That brings us to 2024: Winning the White Jersey at the Tour de France and a historic double gold-medal performance at the Paris Olympics, followed now by his second Time Trial Rainbow Jersey in two years.

Victory appears to have become synonymous with Remco Evenepoel, who rides our DURA-ACE R9200 groupset. For Those Who Never Compromise—For Remco.

This is the year for Grace.

The athlete from Victoria, Australia, initially excelled as a runner during her high school and university years. However, after facing a series of injuries, she switched to cycling in 2015. Remarkably, within just 18 months, she secured a breakthrough victory at the Mersey Valley Tour in Tasmania.

This success quickly led to her joining the national team. Since then, Brown has rapidly become one of the world’s top cyclists in the renowned World Tour Cycling team FDJ-Suez.

She showcased her mastery at the Paris Olympics, winning a gold medal in the Individual Time Trial and following up with the Rainbow Jersey in Zürich. Congrats Grace! Job well done.

Did you know: Shimano Ambassadors Franco Marvulli and Sophie Moser rode through the Zürich Course in a UCI Course Preview—Watch Now.

A White Jersey at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift. A Rainbow Jersey at the UCI World Championships in Andorra and now a fabulous U23 Road Race Rainbow Jersey in Zürich. Puck Pieterse, part of the Fenix-Deceuninck team, has had a tremendous year. Much deserved, for she is a tremendous talent.

The Dutch Pieterse first broke through in 2019 on the cyclocross scene, winning the Dutch and European Junior titles. She showed the world her class by breaking through in every discipline, with UCI World Series victories on her Mountain Bike, and recently a Tour de France Femmes stage win.

The Men Elite Road Race was a spectacular showcase of skill. Featuring an early breakaway and, ultimately, a well-earned bronze medal for Mathieu van der Poel—requiring an exciting sprint at the end!

All riders on the podium at the Men Elite Road Race were equipped with a DURA-ACE R9200 groupset—a testament to the Science Of Speed.

Professional cycling is a year-round pursuit—not just for the athletes. The organization around each race is filled with dedicated people, ensuring each race and stage is well-prepared, safe, and fair. The mechanics and riders of Shimano Neutral Service play a key role in providing fundamental service at more than 560 race days every year, including the UCI World Championships Cycling and Para-cycling.

The stellar mechanics from the Neutral Service team deliver a WorldTour-worthy performance each race day, fueled by a fair mix of adrenaline, technical savvy and a sincere love of the sport.

The advent of DURA-ACE continues to make its mark on the WorldTour, empowering and supporting talented riders on their way to Find THEIR Fast on the road. Its innovative design and superior performance inspire us all to push our limits and strive for excellence.

The spirit of cycling is known for its share of drama, dedication, and… derailleurs. Yet, when we think of the cycling world today, we see the smiling faces of riders, mechanics, and fans sharing these life-defining moments. To draw a line from each inspired rider, young and old, to the moment Shozaburo Shimano opened the doors of Shimano Iron Works in Sakai in 1921 is simply extraordinary.