2023 UCI Cycling World Championships schedule, tickets and events explained

Thirteen Cycling World Championships will take place in Scotland, but how do the Championships work, what is the schedule like and where can you purchase tickets?

The inaugural UCI Cycling World Championships is here, with cycling enthusiasts from around the world arriving in Scotland. 

With 13 World Championships taking place across 11 days, there are plenty of events to secure tickets for and plenty more which don’t need them at all.

If it all seems a little overwhelming, don't worry. From what events are on the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships schedule to where and when they take place, here's everything you need to know.

How will the Glasgow Cycling World Championships work?

For the first time ever, all seven cycling disciplines are coming together for a mega event which will see the world's best riders competing in Scotland.

There are 13 Championships which fall under the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, these are: BMX Freestyle Flatland; BMX Freestyle Park; BMX Racing; Gran Fondo; Indoor Cycling; Mountain Bike Cross-country; Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon; Mountain Bike Downhill; Para-Cycling Road; Para-Cycling Track; Road; Track and finally, Trials.

The championships will primarily take place in Glasgow, but due to the variety of needs for each discipline events will span the whole of Scotland.

Some events, such as the road races, will be free for spectators to attend while attending venues such as the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome will require tickets. And if you're travelling for the mountain biking, you may also have to consider transport and accommodation.

Cycling World Championships 2023 schedule

With so many events taking place from August 3 to August 13, finding out when and where each Championship is taking place can quickly become confusing. We've pulled together the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships schedule in a searchable table so you can easily find out more.

BMX Freestyle Park world championships

There are three BMX events taking place across the Championships. Taking place at Glasgow Green, the BMX Freestyle Flatland event will see each rider combine as many tricks as possible in two 60 second rounds to impress the judges and crowd. Each round is scored out of a possible 100 points –  awarded on style, technique, difficulty and more –  and the highest total takes gold. 

The BMX Freestyle Flatland will take place at Glasgow Green. Qualifying will take place from 8am on Saturday August 5, semi-finals will take place on Sunday August 6 from 11am and the finals will be held on Monday August 7 from 1.30pm. 

Tickets will cost from £5 to £15 for Qualifiers and the semi-finals, and from £5 to £25 for the finals. 

BMX Freestyle Flatland world championships

The BMX Freestyle Flatland event is a unique event incorporating artistry and challenging competitors to spin and style their way through a 2-3 minute round, which is essentially dancing with a BMX. 

Riders will attempt tricks and hope to wow the judges with their talent and creativity while earning points for balance, stability, and control – with floor touches expected to be kept to a minimum. Often dizzying for both rider and spectator, this Glasgow Green event is free to attend. 

BMX Flatland has been described as parkour combined with breakdancing on a bike.

Qualifying for both the men and women’s events will take place in the afternoon of Tuesday August 8. The men’s Elite semi-finals will take place on Wednesday August 9 in the afternoon while the Elite finals – for both events – will take place the afternoon of Thursday August 10. 

BMX Racing world championships

This event is likely what springs to mind when the uninitiated think of BMX championships, with riders covering just a single lap they will encounter high-speed curves, big bumps and large jumps. 

There are only two UCI standard BMX venues in the UK, with Championship venue the Glasgow BMX Centre one of them, at 400m long and just 5m wide. 

Timings for this event are still to be confirmed, but BMX Racing will take place from Sunday August 6 to Wednesday August 9, and then again during the closing weekend on Saturday August 12 and Sunday August 13. Four day ticket bundles are available from just £20.  

Track and Para-Cycling Track world championships

There are a range of different Track Cycling events taking place at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome during the Cycling World Championships. These events will include Keirin, Team Pursuit, Points Race, Madison, Elimination and Omnium.

Track Para-cyclists will run the same events as their non-disabled counterparts, including the Sprint, Tandem Team Sprint/Mixed Team Sprint, Time Trial, Individual Pursuit, and Scratch Race.

What is each track event?

The Sprint and Team Sprint are one on one duels which pits riders against each other to meet the qualification cut in 3 lap knockout heats until only the two strongest riders remain. The Team Sprint will also take place across 3 laps where each rider must race flat out before peeling away. When the last rider crosses the finish line, the team will receive their time. 

Following a motorbike for 750m, riders in the Keirin must remain behind a motorbike, the “derny” which will speed up as each lap flies by. When the motorcycle peels away an all-out sprint begins to determine the winner.

The Derny rider during Men's Keirin Track Cycling at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

In the Time Trial, riders must race a set distance – 1km for men, 500m for women – as quickly as they can. 

Racing in the Individual Pursuit and Team Pursuit, two competitors will begin on opposite sides of the track and if one catches the other, they win. If no one is caught, the fastest time over 4km for men and 3km for women is declared the winner. The Team Pursuit operates in a similar fashion, with two teams of four riders on opposite sides of the track. If one team catches the other they are declared the winners while the same rules regarding distances also apply here. 

Katie Archibald leads out Team GB's in the Team Pursuit at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome. Image: Bill Murray/SNS

In the Points Race cyclists race against one another in a mix of sprint and endurance. Men will ride 160 laps while women ride 100 in an effort to win points based on sprint laps which take place every ten laps, at which time 5 points will be awarded to the winner, then 3, 2, and 1, with 20 points awarded for lapping the field. In the final sprint, points are doubled, so it’s all to play for until the very end.

Riders in the Elimination event sprint every two laps with the rider who crosses the finish line last on the sprint lap eliminated. The field will narrow as the event progresses with only the strongest riders staying cycling. 

Teams of two will take turns to take part in the Madison relay race, where partners will use each other's momentum using a hand sling. There are spring laps where teams attempt to gather points, with 5 for the winner, then 3, 2 and 1, and when the field is lapped they are awarded 20 points. Again, like the points race, points are doubled for the final sprint.

Britain's cycling team relay during the men's Madison final during the 2018 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn. Image: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP via Getty Images

The Scratch event is a mass start race for solo riders, with men racing 15km and women for 10km. First across the finish line wins. 

A test of versatility, riders taking part in the Omnium will be faced with four events on the same day: scratch, tempo, elimination and the points race. To win, riders must finish strong in each event as consistency is key. 

Unlike many of the events which are ticketed, there are multiple Track and Para-Cycling events and stages taking place each day at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome.

Track and Para-Cycling Track world championships schedule

Events held in the morning will typically include qualifiers while finals are more often held in the evening. Tickets for the early competitions cost £15, £20 or £30, while evening tickets will cost £30, £45 and £70. 

On Thursday August 3, there will be two events taking place. In the morning from 9.30am the Team Pursuit, Individual Pursuit, Sprint, and Scratch Race qualifiers will take place, alongside the Men’s Time Trial final (Omnium). In the evening, from 5pm, you can watch Round 1 of the Women’s Team Sprint and Individual Pursuit, Sprint, Time Trial and Scratch Race finals. 

The morning event on Friday August 4 will take place from 10am. Team Pursuit qualifiers will take place, with both qualifying and final Time Trials kicking off. Individual Pursuit, Sprint, Time Trial and Scratch Race finals will take place