13 disciplines, 8000 athletes: Questions & answers about the World Cycling Championships
DPA
· 31.07.2023
World championships in 13 disciplines with around 8000 cyclists, and all summarised in one mega event. The first Super Cycling World Championships start on Thursday in Glasgow and the surrounding area in Scotland. The German team is represented by almost 200 athletes and a number of medal hopefuls, with the track cycling aces in particular always good for podium places.
World Cycling Championships 2023: What's behind the idea?
The International Cycling Union (UCI) wants to organise World Cycling Games in all disciplines every four years. From 3 to 13 August, the 2023 World Cycling Championship titles will be awarded on the road, track, mountain bike and BMX. But the indoor cycling, trials and downhill competitions, which are less in the spotlight, will also have their own stage. Para-athletes will also be represented on the road and track. Only cyclo-cross, traditionally a winter discipline, is missing from the programme. The next Super World Championships have already been allocated and will take place in the French region of Haute-Savoie in 2027.
World Cycling Championships 2023: What are the highlights?
The men's road race on 6 August will take centre stage, but will not be the usual finale. Instead, the event will end a week later with the women's race. The track cycling competitions, which start on Thursday, will also take centre stage.
World Cycling Championships 2023: Where will the competitions take place?
Glasgow, where the road races finish, takes centre stage. The track cycling competitions also take place there in the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. But the Scottish surroundings will also be included. The individual time trials take place in Stirling, the cross-country mountain bike disciplines are held in Glentress Forest and the downhillers race downhill in Fort William.
World Cycling Championships 2023: Where are Germany's best chances of winning a medal?
There are likely to be numerous medals again in track cycling. Multiple world champions Lea Sophie Friedrich and Emma Hinze are among the favourites in all sprint disciplines, and the German women are also world leaders in the single and team pursuit. On the road, the battle for the medals will be more difficult. In the men's classics and time trial, there are at best outsider chances, while Tour stage winner Liane Lippert could win something in the women's race. There are certain medals in the indoor cycling category, which is of little public relevance and where Germany has dominated the world elite for years.
Will there be another duel between Tour champion Jonas Vingegaard and his great rival Tadej Pogacar?
No. Vingegaard has decided not to take part in the World Championships. The classics course hardly suits him, instead the Dane is concentrating on his participation in the Vuelta at the end of August. Pogacar has not yet made a final decision on whether to start in the World Championships.
World Cycling Championships 2023: Who are the favourites in the road race?
It is likely to be a race for the classics specialists such as defending champion Remco Evenepoel, his Belgian compatriot Wout van Aert, Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel and former world champion Mads Pedersen from Denmark. Pogacar, if he rides, is also likely to be in contention for victory. From a German perspective, Maximilian Schachmann, John Degenkolb or Nils Politt are most likely to achieve a top placing.
What's new in the German road team?
Long-time sprint star André Greipel has taken over as sporting director. The Rostock-born rider, who ended his career at the end of 2021, was the last German to finish on the podium in a road race with third place in Copenhagen in 2011. The last German victory was 57 years ago, with Rudi Altig winning in 1966.
World Cycling Championships 2023: Where can the competitions be seen on TV?
As usual, Eurosport will provide comprehensive coverage of the title fights. ZDF will also be broadcasting live during the decisive phase of the men's World Championship road race on 6 August.
Copyright 2023, dpa (www.dpa.de). All rights reserved
