The men's individual road race at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, was held on 26 July 1976.

[2] The event was won by Bernt Johansson of Sweden, the nation's first victory in the men's individual road race.

It replaced the individual time trial event that had been held from 1912 to 1932 (and which would be reintroduced alongside the road race in 1996).

Ryszard Szurkowski of Poland was "probably" the favorite; he had won the 1973 world championship and placed second in 1974.

[1] Bolivia and Nicaragua each made their debut in the men's individual road race.