UCI Road World Championships

The UCI Road World Championships, often referred to as the World Cycling Championships, is the annual world championship for bicycle road racing organized by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI). The UCI road world championships include events for elite men's road race and individual time trial. In addition, championships are held for the same events for cyclists under 23.

* The winner of the UCI road world championship is considered the "world cycling champion" (or "road world champion") and wears a "Rainbow Jersey" for a year in road races. The event is a single 'massed start' road race, the winner the first across the line.

* The winner of the time trial is the "world time trial champion" and wears the "Rainbow Jersey" for a year in individual time trial (ITT) events or time trial stages on stage races, such as the Tour de France.

Both the road race and time trial events are ridden by riders representing their countries, although they will have been representing different teams for most of the season.

History

The first professional world championship took place in 1927 at the Nürburgring in Germany and was won by Alfredo Binda, of Italy. The race is held towards the end of the European season, usually following the Vuelta a España. The event can be held over a relatively flat course which favors cycling sprinters or a hilly course which favors a climbing specialist or all-round.

The elite men's race is usually won by riders on the UCI ProTour. In the past there were separate events for amateurs and professionals.

The world championship and two of the three Grand Tours (the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de France and the Vuelta a España) form the Triple Crown of Cycling.

Championships

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