The Mauritian national cycling team is set to participate in the UCI Road World Championships, which will take place in Montreal, Canada, from September 20-27. The team consists of nine cyclists, including Kimberley Le Court-Pienaar and Tristan Hardy, who will be competing in various events. The championships are considered a major milestone for cyclists, with national team coach Vincent Graczyk emphasizing their importance.
Kimberley Le Court-Pienaar will be competing in the elite women's road race on September 26, with the goal of winning the title. Despite not completing her preparation as planned due to a crash in the Classic Lorient Agglomération – Ceratizit on August 29, Le Court-Pienaar is expected to perform well. She will have her own technical staff, including DS Fien Delbaere, mechanic Sanne Geroms, and masseuse Karis Verfaillie.
Tristan Hardy, a young and promising cyclist, will be competing in the junior men's events, including the individual time trial and road race. After winning the Tour de la Réunion in early August, Hardy has continued to improve and is expected to be a contender for a podium finish. His coach, Vincent Graczyk, believes he has a good chance of achieving a top result, particularly in the road race.
The Mauritian team will also feature other cyclists, including Alexandre Mayer, Daniel Yon Hin, Jeremy Raboude, Samuel Quevauvilliers, and Juliano Ndriamanampy. Jeremy Raboude, the 2026 Mauritian road champion, had to overcome administrative issues to secure his visa for Canada, but ultimately made it to the championships just in time.
The championships will feature various events, including individual time trials, road races, and a mixed team relay. The Mauritian team will be competing in several of these events, with a focus on gaining experience and achieving good results. According to Vincent Graczyk, the mixed team relay is an important event for Mauritius, as they were crowned African champions in 2025.
The team's program will begin on September 20 with the elite men's and women's individual time trials, followed by the under-23 men's and women's time trials on September 21. The mixed team relay will take place on September 22, and the junior men's time trial will be held on September 22.
As the championships approach, the Mauritian team is ready to take on the world's top cyclists. With a mix of experienced riders like Kimberley Le Court-Pienaar and young talents like Tristan Hardy, the team is looking to make a strong impression in Montreal. The championships will be a valuable learning experience for the team's younger members, who will be competing at the international level for the first time.
Key points
- The Mauritian national cycling team will compete in the UCI Road World Championships in Montreal, Canada, from September 20-27.
- Kimberley Le Court-Pienaar will be competing in the elite women's road race with the goal of winning the title.
- Tristan Hardy is expected to be a contender for a podium finish in the junior men's events.
