Canada's Magdeleine Vallieres Mill celebrates winning the women's Elite road race, at the road cycling World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Canadian Magdeleine Vallieres, winner of the women's elite road race at the UCI Road World Championships in September, has extended her contract with the EF Education-Oatly team through 2028.

The 24-year-old from Sherbrooke, Que., became the first Canadian to win an elite road race world title when she attacked out of the breakaway on the final climb and held on for the historic victory in Kigali, Rwanda.

“I’ve been with the team forever and it is like my family now,” Vallieres said in a statement. “I grew up on this team and I think I can continue to develop here.

"Signing a long-term contract felt like the right move for me and for the next steps in my career. I get along really well with the girls and I think we're in a place where we can keep growing together. We know how to race together and how to get the best out of each other. We're a lot stronger because we get along so well.”

Vallieres is set to make her 2026 debut at the Tour Down Under, which starts Jan. 17 in Willunga, Australia. She then looks to focus on the Ardennes classics, Giro d’Italia and Tour de France before returning to Quebec to defend her world title next fall in Montreal.

EF Education-Oatly general manager Esra Tromp said the Canadian rider is a leader on the team.

“Daring to race and have confidence in herself and finally get that world championship win was really inspirational for all of our riders," Esra said. "Mags leads by example. For the other girls now, seeing her rainbow jersey there in the group when they are out training or at dinner will make them think, ‘OK, now we need to step up, because we have the world champion in our team and we need to show that in the races. We need to be able to help her.'

"That is going to give a big push to all of the riders. Mags will draw a lot of confidence from the jersey and will get more confidence from the team to go out and race a lot of finales and find more wins."

As world champion, Vallieres gets to race in the rainbow jersey this season.

EF Education-Oatly, a U.S.-based team, is also home to Canadians Clara Emond (Saint-Ferréol-les-Neiges, Que.), Alison Jackson (Vermilion, Alta.) and Alex Volstad (Fredericton).

“I learned a lot from helping others," Vallieres said. "I won the worlds because of it. Now, I am looking forward to taking a different approach and trying to bring everything I learned to race more as a leader."

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 22, 2025

News from © The Canadian Press, 2025