Your essential guide to the 2016 UCI Road World Championships (video)
The UCI Road World Championships head to the Middle East in October as Peter Sagan and Lizzie Deignan look to defend their road race titles
The world's best sprinters and time triallists will descend on Doha, Qatar, between October 9-16 for the 2016 UCI Road World Championships - the first to be held in the Middle East.
The virtually pan flat road race courses will provide a good opportunity for the fast men to contest a sprint finish for the first time since Mark Cavendish won in 2011, and the Manxman is again the favourite to win the men's race.
Lizzie Deignan will face a tough challenge to defend the title she won in Richmond last year on a course that doesn't entirely suit her skill-set, with the women's race almost entirely contested on the downtown finishing circuit in Doha.
Olympic champion Fabian Cancellara will not be targetting a fourth time trial world title in his final season, writing off the Doha championships. The flat course on the Pearl Qatar island could suit the likes of Tom Dumoulin (Netherlands), Tony Martin (Germany) and Rohan Dennis (Australia) taking excellent form into the event.
Hannah Barnes and Hayley Simmonds will compete for Great Britain in the women's time trial, while Alex Dowsett looks set to race the men's event alongside one of Geraint Thomas and Steve Cummings.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Do cycling jackets have to get a lot worse for the environment to get a bit better?
Will our waterproof cycling rain jackets still keep out the elements now that the old way of manufacturing is being banned
By Hannah Bussey Published
-
TrainingPeaks acquires virtual cycling platform indieVelo, aims to add ‘credible racing and realistic riding’ to its training offerings
Called TrainingPeaks Virtual it will be offered as part of TrainingPeaks Premium in March 2025, with a beta version available now
By Luke Friend Published
-
Latvia protest against Mathieu van der Poel's World Championships result, saying he 'endangered spectators'
Latvian Cycling Federation calls on UCI to explain decision not to disqualify Dutchman who mounted pavement
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'I was pushing but I couldn't feel my legs' - GB's Oscar Onley on his breakout World Championships ride
The 21-year-old was the youngest man in the top-20 in Zürich and matched some of the big guns on his way to 16th
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was a stupid move, but it worked' - Tadej Pogačar on his history-making World Championships ride
Welcome to the Pogačar era, where the Slovenian can attack from 100km to the line and still win. It's just starting.
By Adam Becket Published
-
'Crazy', 'not normal', 'another level' - Peloton reacts to another Tadej Pogačar solo masterclass at World Championships
The win was not unexpected, but the way it happened might have been, as the Slovenian soloed to historic victory
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tadej Pogačar completes stunning Triple Crown with 51km solo to maiden rainbow jersey
Slovenian caps off imperious year with victory at the World Championships road race in Zurich
By Flo Clifford Published
-
'Everyone wants to win, sometimes that means everyone wants to lose' - Dutch attack, attack, and attack, but end up with fifth after confusing World Championships road race
Demi Vollering staked everything on trying to win the rainbow bands, but it wasn't to be. Was there a better way?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Lotte Kopecky has 'perfect day' as she sprints to Worlds glory again
Belgian becomes seventh woman to defend the rainbow bands on tough day on the roads of Zürich
By Adam Becket Published
-
'In a sprint with Kopecky, that’s probably the best I can do' - Chloé Dygert content with silver in World Championships road race
The American took the best result for her country since 1991 in the road race, capping off great year for USA women's cycling
By Adam Becket Published