2023 Cycling World Championships: Everything you should know

From which events are part of the 2023 Cycling World Championships to where to watch them on TV - we have everything you need to know. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

The biggest cycling event ever staged has arrived in Glasgow, bringing together 13 World Championships across seven disciplines.

There are more than 8,000 elite and amateur cyclists expected to compete in the 11-day mega-event which will take place throughout August.

From where you can watch the 2023 Cycling World Championships to where each event will be held, we have everything you need to know.

What is the UCI Cycling World Championship?

The UCI, or the Union Cycliste Internationale, is the governing body of cycling, which was founded in 1900. It has held thousands of events across the globe since its formation, and the 2023 Cycling World Championships will make history.

Bringing together professionals and amateurs from all over the world and each discipline of cycling, Glasgow and Scotland will play host to the inaugural Cycling World Championships which will subsequently be held every four years.

The Cycling World Championships 2023 are being hosted in Glasgow. Image: 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships/Will Palmer/SWpix.com

When is the 2023 Cycling World Championship?

Taking place in the year ahead of the Summer Olympics, the inaugural 2023 Championships will take place from Thursday August 3 until Sunday August 13.

Will there be an opening ceremony?

The opening ceremony for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will take place at Glasgow's George Square on Wednesday August 2 from 5pm to 8pm.

The ceremony will be hosted by Scottish Commonwealth Games silver medallist Charline Jones and cycling commentator and Glaswegian comedian Alan Anderson with a headline performance from KT Tunstall.

KT Tunstall will perform during the UCI Cycling World Championships opening ceremony. Image: Paul Faith

What are the 13 Cycling World Championships?

The event will see athletes from seven disciplines chasing victory across 13 World Championships.

Here is each World Championship taking place in Scotland this year:

BMX Freestyle Flatland World Championships
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
Trials

The 2023 Cycling World Championships has also, for the first time ever, fully integrated para-cycling competitions into the schedule, across track, road, para-cycling track, para-cycling road, BMX, MTB, artistic cycling, Cycle-Ball and Gran Fondo events.

Where in Scotland will the Championship visit?

While Glasgow will be the epicentre of events, the UCI Cycling World Championship will make its mark across Scotland, from the Borders to the Highlands. Here is each region and which events they will host.

Angus and Dundee will host the Gran Fondo Time Trials, while the main Gran Fondo and Medio Fondo events will travel through Perth and Kinross.

The Men Elite Road Race will travel through Edinburgh, Fife, Clackmannanshire, Falkirk, Stirling, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow. The Women Elite Road Race, including under-23s, will travel a different, shorter route from Loch Lomond and West Dunbartonshire, through to Stirling, East Dunbartonshire and Glasgow. The Men under-23 group will follow the same route.

Nevis Range is home to one of the only gondolas in the UK, making it perfect for the 2023 Mountain Bike Downhill World Championship. Image: Phunkt

Alongside the Road Races, Road Time Trials will also travel through Stirling, with a number of Para-cycling Road events to take place in Dumfries and Galloway.

The Scottish Borders will host several mountain bike World Championship events at Glentress Forest near Peebles. Meanwhile, the Mountain Bike Downhill World Championships will take place at Fort William's Nevis Centre in the Highlands.

And finally, in the middle of Cycling World Championships action, Glasgow will play host to the majority of events. From acting as the Road race finish line, to hosting the BMX, Trial, Indoor Cycling and Track Championships in venues across the city, Glasgow is the place to be for cycling fans.

Venues

Speaking of venues, there are several involved with the Glasgow Cycling World Championships.

Get Ready Glasgow have provided a map of each notable UCI Cycling World Championships location. Image: Get Ready Glasgow

Outdoor venues include George Square and Glasgow Green with further events taking place in the Emirates Arena, Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome and Glasgow BMX Centre.

And outside of Glasgow, Nevis Range in Fort William will host the Downhill World Championship with other mountain bike championships to take place at Glentress Forest in Peebles.

What else is on during the Championships?

George Square will be transformed into a dedicated fan zone during the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, offering a full programme of entertainment.

George Square will be transformed for the Championships. Image: Lewis McKenzie/PA Wire.

It will showcase just some of Scotland's talent, with contributions from Celtic Connections, Piping Live, Glasgow Mela and more. In addition there will be a number of other activities popping up across the city, from spectator hubs and UCI history displays to art exhibitions and bike tours.

There will also be fringe events taking place across host regions, from Fort William to the Peebles.

Where to watch the 2023 Cycling World Championships

For those who are unable to attend the Cycling World Championships in person, there’s no need to worry.

There will be ample coverage of the 11-day Championships across the BBC, with key daytime events live on BBC Scotland from August 6 and more than 200 hours of live streams available.

You can expect hosts and commentators such as Clare Balding, Sir Chris Hoy, Chris Boardman and more.

Sir Chris Hoy is an ambassador for the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championship and he will host live BBC coverage.

2023 Glasgow Cycling World Championships TV schedule

Here’s where and when you can watch the Cycling World Championships on TV or online.

Day 1: Thursday August 3

Clare Balding and Sir Chris Hoy will launch the BBC's TV coverage of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships from 5.30pm on BBC Two and from 7pm on BBC Three.

On this day there are 11 track gold medals to be won, and the morning track session will be livestreamed online, including qualifying events.

Day 2: Friday August 4

Live coverage will be on BBC Two from 5.30pm - 7pm and BBC Three from 7pm - 9pm. There are 9 track gold medals to be won and the morning track session and qualifying events will be streamed.

Day 3: Saturday August 5

The Downhill Mountain Bike Finals will be broadcast live on BBC One from 1.15pm - 4.45pm. With seven track medals to be won, the days events will be available online from 5.30pm - 7pm, before coverage switches to BBC Three from 7pm - 9pm.

Full coverage of earlier sessions and qualifiers will be available to stream.

Day 4: Sunday August 6

From Sunday August 6, key daytime events will be available on BBC Scotland with the Men's Road Race first up from 9.30am - 4.20pm. Alternatively you can watch the Men's Road Race uninterrupted online from 9.30am - 4.20pm. Additional coverage will be aired on BBC Two from 2.30pm - 4.30pm, then BBC Three from 7pm - 9pm.

The early track session and qualifying events will be streamed, as will the BMX freestyle park semi-finals, with further events available from 5.30pm - 7pm.

Day 5: Monday August 7

The BMX freestyle park finals will be on BBC Two from 2.30pm - 6pm, and track finals from 7pm - 9pm on BBC Three with 10 gold medals up for grabs.

Shaun Gornall, GB, in action during the Men's BMX Freestyle Final, European Championships Munich 2022. Image: SWpix.com

Day 6: Tuesday August 8

The team time trial mixed relay road race will be streamed and broadcast on BBC Scotland from 1pm - 4.20pm, before track action once again picks up on BBC Two from 5.30 - 7pm, then BBC Three from 7pm - 9pm.

Day 7: Wednesday August 9

BBC Scotland will show the mountain bike team event from 12.30pm - 2.20pm. Then from 7pm - 9pm on BBC Three there are 4 track medals to be won.

The e-mountain bike event, Para-cycling road time trial, road men’s U23 time trial and the Trials team medal event will all be live streamed throughout the day.

Day 8: Thursday August 10

From 2pm - 4.45pm on BBC Two the elite women's time trial will be shown, with the BMX Flatland Finals being shown on BBC Scotland from 3pm 3.45pm and then again from 4.20 - 5.50pm.

Events being streamed throughout the day include the Para-cycling individual time trials, junior women’s road time trial, Mountain Bike Cross-Country Short Track Finals and more.

Day 9: Friday August 11

On BBC Two, the men's road race time trials will be broadcast from 2.30pm - 5.15pm, with live streams of the artistic cycling medal events, men’s trials semi-finals, Mountain Bike Cross-Country U23 races and the junior men’s road time trial picking up throughout the day.

Day 10: Saturday August 12

The Mountain Bike Cross-Country will be shown on BBC Scotland from 11.30am - 1.20pm, for the women's event, and between 3.30pm - 5.20pm, for the men's races, followed by coverage of BMX Supercross qualifying from 6pm - 6.40pm.

Live streams on Day 10 will include Para-cycling road races, Trials finals, Artistic cycling medal events, the men’s U23 road race and more.

Day 11: Sunday August 13

The final day of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships, BBC Scotland will show the BMS Supercross racing finals from 11.30am - 3pm.

On BBC Two, there will be coverage of the women's road race, BMX finals, para cycling relay, Artistic Cycling and Cycle-Ball finals from 1pm - 5pm.

Live streams will also be available for the Cycle-ball and artistic cycling medal events, the Para-cycling road team relay and more of the BMX Supercross Racing plus the women’s road race in full from 12pm - 4.30pm.

Everything you need to know about the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships