Why Every Cyclist Should Visit Montreal
Especially this September, 2026.
It’s no secret that I love talking about Montreal.
Usually it's about the food.
Either defending my beloved Fairmount Bagels (and yes, I am firmly Team Fairmount), rave about the cafés and croissants, or explain why maple syrup belongs on far more things than most people realize.
But there's another side of Montreal that means even more to me.
Cycling.
The cycling culture and history runs deep in Montreal.
Most people don't realize Montreal has one of the richest cycling histories in North America.
Actually, Montrealers’ love affair with cycling dates back to the late 1800. By 1869, Montréal had already hosted around fifteen bicycle races. The island’s first bike paths opened in 1874. In 1878, a group of cyclists formed the Montréal Bicycling Club, Canada’s first cycling club and only the second in North America.
Then came the modern era that led the path to what is now the cycling culture in Montreal, and that’s what influenced my lifelong cycling journey.
And it is no surprise that Montreal was the choosing destination to host the 2026 Road Cycling World Championships.
(Whenever people ask me where they should plan their next cycling trip, Montreal is always near the top of my list.)
Getting Back To My Cycling Roots:
I (Sophie), started racing in 1989, and the greater Montreal is where I learned how to ride, train, and compete.
As a young cyclist, I spent countless hours riding through city traffic, climbing Camilien-Houde, and sneaking over to the F1 Circuit Gilles Villeneuve whenever I could. Those roads weren't just where I trained. They were where I simply enjoyed riding my bike and saw Montreal in a way that only two wheels can show you.
To this day, the famous Camilien-Houde climb which is referred to as "The Mountain” or La Montagne if you're from Quebec, and is the most grueling city hill cyclists step foot on for their weekly hill training.
Basically, every local cyclist in Montreal has climbed this famous road at least once!
Back in the day, if you were looking for me during the summer, chances are good you would have found me somewhere on those roads doing hill repeats, training and wandering on the streets of Montreal or outside the island, and spending countless hours on my bike.
A Full-Circle Moment
This September 2026, the Cycling World Championships are coming (back) to Montreal.
The race route will feature many of the same roads that shaped my cycling journey, including La Montagne itself, which will provide plenty of challenges for the world's best cyclists competing on this city circuit.
For me that feels pretty special.
We can find on these same roads, a long and established history of professional road cycling:
1974 UCI Road World Championships: The city hosted the world championships, becoming the first location outside of Europe to hold the event.
1976 Summer Olympics: The city held the biggest sporting event in the world!
Coupe du Monde Cycliste Féminine de Montréal: From 1998 to 2009 the women racing circuit made a North American stop.
Grand Prix Cycliste: Since 2010, Montreal has hosted the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal, an official UCI WorldTour one-day classic.
2026 UCI World Championships: Montreal celebrates 50 years since the 1976 Summer Olympics by welcoming back the elite UCI Road World Championships.
More Than Just a Race
One of the things I love most about cycling is how it connects people.
Every time someone tells me they're planning a trip to Montreal, I get excited. Not just because they'll get to experience incredible culture, but because they'll get to experience one of my favorite cities in the world and the place I call home.
The cycling is great.
But so is everything else.
The food. The cafes. The patios. The architecture.
The energy of the city.
Montreal has a way of making people fall in love with it.
Planning a Trip to Montreal?
Everyone always wants to know the common thing: where to eat, where to go…and I’d say, don't sweat it… anywhere you will go, you will find great restaurants, cafes, bakeries, art and architecture.
But with that said, here’s my list of iconic places or food to add to the “must go or see” for every cyclist visiting Montreal.
Sophie’s Quick Montreal Guide:
Best bagel: Fairmount Bagel
Best neighborhood to wander: Plateau Mont-Royal
Best market: Atwater
Best cycling climb: Camilien-Houde
Best cycling routes: Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve & Canal Lachine
Best city view: Mount Royal Lookout
Best Montreal experience: The many cafes, bakeries and their outdoor patios
Best out of town place to ride: Eastern Townships
Best Montreal iconic food: Schwartz's Deli
Most Iconic Cafe: Café Olimpico
Cycling Cafe: Le Club Cafe (known for it’s bike shop too)
And if it's your first visit to Montreal, I've put together a free Montreal Guide filled with some of my favorite places to eat, ride, explore, and experience while you're there.
I can't promise you'll leave as obsessed with Montreal as I am.
But there's a pretty good chance you'll start planning your next trip before the first one is over.
À bientôt,