Road

Want to watch the world’s best cyclists take on Scotland’s roads? Here’s everything you need to know about Road Racing.

Dates: 05 - 06, 08 - 13 August 2023

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Mathieu van der Poel takes the lead in the Men's Elite Road Race, Edinburgh to Glasgow, Scotland

Overview

The rules of the road are simple: fastest wins.

But a rainbow jersey winning time comes down to more than just raw RPM. Pace setting, strategically timed attacks and gutsy breakaways will separate the race leaders from the pack on the high-speed hills, thrills and spills of Scotland’s most challenging roads.

Spectator Guide

Find all you need to know about the Road Race events, the venues and more, by downloading our Spectator Guide.

How it works

The Road Race pits riders against each other in an all-out battle for supremacy of Scotland’s roads. 

Even though there’s plenty of riders to form the peloton - where you’ll see riders “drafting”, which means following the lead rider for an aerodynamic advantage. Mental toughness is mandatory and mistakes made can be immediately punished.

While this is a team sport, there’s only one rainbow jersey up for grabs - who will come out on top will be decided on the roads between Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the Glasgow circuit.

 

In Individual Time Trial, riders set off one-by-one at regular intervals of 1-2 minutes. There’s nowhere to hide and no slipstreams to conserve energy in. Just the clock.

Aerodynamics are everything, so you’ll see futuristic bikes, helmets and skinsuits. With sheer speed being top priority, riders have to push the limit of safe racing lines as the twists, turns and tight corners could end a potentially medal winning run at any moment.

 

The Team Time Trial Mixed Relay sees squads of six - three women and three men - race a road circuit in turn. The men go first and race their lap as quickly as they can. The women can only go when the second man reaches them. The women push the pace and when the second woman crosses the finish line, the team has their time.

A single rider per team can drop out of each stage, so teams use this strategically by letting one rider lead the way to keep legs fresh for as long as they can. Communication, coordination and understanding of individual strengths will be key.

ROUTE & ROAD CLOSURES

Further information about the race, including route details, road closures, transport and travel advice, is available in the Get Ready area of our website. 

Multiple venues across Scotland

Glasgow (Road Races - All Finishes)
Edinburgh (Men Elite - Start)
Stirling (Individual Time Trials)
Loch Lomond (Women Elite & Men Under 23 - Start)

Find out more about each of the regions in the Visit section.

All events in this championships

Current UCI World Champions

2023 Season

Julie BEGO
FRA

Julie BEGO

Women Junior - Road Race

Albert PHILIPSEN
DEN

Albert PHILIPSEN

Men Junior - Road Race

Mathieu VAN DER POEL
NED

Mathieu VAN DER POEL

Men Elite - Road Race

Team  SWITZERLAND
SUI

Team SWITZERLAND

Team Time Trial Mixed Relay

Lorenzo MILESI
ITA

Lorenzo MILESI

Men Under 23 Time Trial

Felicity WILSON-HAFFENDEN
AUS

Felicity WILSON-HAFFENDEN

Women Junior Time Trial

Chloe DYGERT
USA

Chloe DYGERT

Women Elite Time Trial

Oscar CHAMBERLAIN
AUS

Oscar CHAMBERLAIN

Men Junior Time Trial

Remco Evenepoel
BEL

Remco Evenepoel

Men Elite Time Trial

Axel LAURANCE
FRA

Axel LAURANCE

Men Under 23 Road Race

Elisa Balsamo graphic, the rider is wrapped in a blue brushstroke

Fun Facts!

  • Road racing is arguably the most iconic cycle sport there is. Tens of millions of spectators turn up to events and even more around the world watch on TV and online.
  • The first officially recorded road race dates back to 1868 and was won by a British rider, James Moore.
  • Road racing has featured at every Olympic Games since its first edition in 1896.
  • The Mixed Team Relay is a relatively new event, debuting at the 2019 World Championships.