The UCI Road World Championships are one of the pinnacles of cycle sport, races most riders can only dream of winning in their career.
The winner of a race at the World Championships is bestowed with the honour of wearing the rainbow jersey for the next calendar, illustrating at every race in which they compete that they have conquered the world's best riders on the biggest of stages. What's more, their names are added to a roll of honour that features some of the sport's greatest champions.
While the elite road races are the climax of the events in the Worlds week, there are plenty more races to enjoy across the varying age categories.
This year's festival of racing takes place in south eastern Australia in Wollongong, New South Wales between September 18 and September 25. It's the first time the Road World Championships have returned to Australia since 2010, when the races were held in Geelong, and the first time they've taken place outside of Europe since the 2016 Worlds in Qatar.
There are 11 events in this year's Worlds, beginning with the elite men's and women's individual time trials on the opening day. The junior and under-23 races then take place over the following two days.
The individual time trials and the road races are broken up by the mixed team relay on the Wednesday before events paise on Thursday. The weekend will then host the various road races, with the elite men's road race rounding off the week on Sunday.
As usual the courses are long and demanding, truly testing the endurance and strength of everyone who turns up to compete. Click through the link to read a full preview of the Road World Championship 2022 courses.
The race favourites are clearer now the final build-up races have taken place, and riders will now be fine tuning their form Down Under ahead of competition.
Find out who the favourites are through the links below, and see the full schedule of events listed below.
- Road World Championships 2022 elite men's time trial favourites
- Road World Championships 2022 elite women's time trial favourites
- Road World Championships 2022 elite men's road race favourites
- Road World Championships 2022 elite women's road race favourites
Sunday September 18
Women’s Elite Individual Time trial
Where: Wollongong
When: 00:35 - 03:30 (BST)
Men's Elite Individual Time Trial
Where: Wollongong
When: 04:30 - 08:00 (BST)
Monday September 19
Men's Under-23 Individual Time Trial
Where: Wollongong
When: 04:20 - 08:00 (BST)
Tuesday September 20
Women's Junior Individual Time Trial
Where: Wollongong
When: 00:35 - 02:06 (BST)
Men's Junior Individual Time Trial
Where: Wollongong
When: 04:20 - 08:01 (BST)
Wednesday September 21
Mixed Relay
Where: Wollongong
When: 05:20 - 08:03 (BST)
Friday September 23
Men's Junior Road Race
Where: Wollongong
When: 11:35 (September 22) - 03:00 (BST)
Men's Under-23 Road Race
Where: Wollongong
When: 04:00 - 08:16 (BST)
Saturday September 24
Women's Junior Road Race
Where: Wollongong
When: 23:00 (September 23) - 00:53 (BST)
Elite Women's Road Race
Where: Helensburgh (start), Wollongong (finish)
When: 02:55 - 08:00 (BST)
Sunday September 25
Elite Men's Road Race
Where: Helensburgh (start), Wollongong (finish)
When: 01:00 - 07:51 (BST)
How to watch
In Europe the UCI Road World Championships will be broadcast live on Eurosport and the Eurosport app.
