World Championships may move to Middle East as November date change is considered
A decision is set to be made before the end of June

The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for signing up to The Pick. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
The 2020 UCI Road World Championships could be moved to the Middle East if the coronavirus pandemic causes further disruption to the already re-jigged cycling calendar.
The 2020 Worlds is set to be held in Aigle-Martigny, Switzerland, where the UCI headquarters are also located, but Spanish newspaper Marca reports Oman, Qatar or the UAE Arab Emirates are being considered as alternative options by cycling's governing body.
If the coronavirus pandemic is still causing the cancellation sporting events, the climates of these countries would make a date change to November, when the disruption of the virus could be less severe, feasible.
Last week the UCI revealed their new 2020 calendar, with the biggest events now squeezed into a two and half month period in the autumn.
>>> Portuguese stages of the 2020 Vuelta a España have been cancelled
The Vuelta a España and Giro d'Italia now overlap, with Paris-Roubaix also taking place during both Grand Tours, as race organisers and other stakeholders try to save their events to avoid financial hardship, and the UCI is no different with the Worlds.
World Championships' hosting fees reportedly bring in around £9 million, their biggest singular revenue source, with the Road Worlds the most lucrative of the disciplines.
The Road Worlds are currently scheduled for September 20-27, starting on the same day the Tour de France ends, with the Giro d'Italia then beginning on October 3.
If the Worlds were pushed back, the currently planned mountainous terrain would be radically changed as riders compete on the desert roads of the Middle East, as they did in 2016 when Peter Sagan won the rainbow bands in Doha, Qatar.
A decision is set to be made before the end of June and if doesn't happen then Aigle-Martigny would have to wait until 2026 or 2027 at the earliest, although Switzerland will see another Worlds in 2024 when Zürich is the host. Flanders is set to hold the 2021 edition, Australia in 2022, while Glasgow will host the first combined Championships in 2023, featuring road, track and mountain bike disciplines. 2025 will then see the first African nation host the Worlds, although a specific location has not yet been unveiled.
"A festival of cycling, yes, but not at any price. We’ll have to be consistent in the decisions we take, and we can’t be stubborn either," 2020 Worlds organiser Grégory Devaud told Radio Télévision Suisse.
"In the current configuration, it’s this Autumn or never," he said. "On the other hand, we could imagine a postponement to a later date, like 2026 or 2027, but that would probably be on a different model."
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Hi. I'm Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor. I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
-
Snapped cranks, motorbikes and decade-old handlebars - breaking sprinting's oldest world record
Jeffrey Hoogland is going after the longest-standing record in track cycling
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Best fenders - mudguards - for gravel bikes 2023: top models we recommend
Want to extend the life of your components and ride in greater comfort? We’ve rounded up the best fenders / mudguards to protect both you and your gravel bike
By Stefan Abram Published
-
Annemiek van Vleuten to target Vuelta-Tour-Giro treble again next season
The Dutchwoman plans to retire at the end of 2023
By Tom Davidson Published
-
11 of the best photos from the 2022 Road World Championships
There were tears, hugs and kisses in Wollongong, Australia
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Remco Evenepoel goes long to win the men's World Championships road race solo after stinging attack
The young Belgian was clearly the strongest on the day, but others need to ask themselves how and why they let him go
By Jack Elton-Walters Last updated
-
Annemiek van Vleuten soars to victory in World Championships road race despite broken elbow
The Dutch rider took the second road world title of her career with late attack
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Zoe Bäckstedt retains junior road race title with stunning solo ride at World Championships
The Welsh rider celebrated her 18th birthday with a 58km solo attack and another rainbow jersey
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Julian Alaphilippe says he is 'not the sole leader' for France in the World Championships road race
The Frenchman played down his form in an interview with L'Équipe
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Tobias Foss shocks the favourites to win World Championships time trial
The Norwegian claimed the biggest win of his career, while Filippo Ganna finished in seventh
By Tom Davidson Last updated
-
Ellen van Dijk claims third time trial title at World Championships
The Dutchwoman won by almost 13 seconds ahead of Grace Brown
By Tom Davidson Last updated