Some 130 years ago, the first cycling World Championships were held in Chicago. USA was hosting the event in the summer of 1893 and on that great occasion, a handful of cyclists seized the opportunity to embrace new horizons, riding their bikes in a velodrome surrounded by modern inventions on the shores of Lake Michigan.
“Never before have so many contestants entered for wheel races”, reported The New York Times, describing “a field unparalleled in the history of cycling” with champions coming from different countries to battle “for international honors”. Three titles (sprint, motor-paced and 10km) were up for grabs. Representing the USA and the New York Athletic Club, Arthur Zimmerman delighted the American fans when he became the first cycling World Champion, and then the first two-time World Champion (sprint and 10km), while South African Lawrence Meintjes claimed the victory in the motor-paced race.
It was a large-scale event, sanctioned by the International Cycling Association, the first international body governing cycling competition, created in 1892 and whose role was taken over by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 1900. Since then, the stage for riders to show their skills and conquer the highest titles has grown and seen important developments, culminating in the UCI Cycling World Championships to be held this summer in Glasgow and across Scotland (Great Britain).
🌈 8,000 athletes, from over 120 countries, competing in 13 UCI World Championships, over 11 epic days this August – you don’t want to miss it!
— 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships (@CyclingWorlds) February 24, 2023
🎫 Book your place at the biggest cycling event in history at https://t.co/c3jmyE1uRV#GlasgowScotland2023 #PowerOfTheBike pic.twitter.com/fPRAgCItGt
Never before have so many cyclists competed for the UCI World Champion titles and the corresponding rainbow jersey that comes along with the title. Over 11 days (3-13 August 2023), thousands of men and women - from amateurs to elite, of all age categories, able-bodied and para-cyclists - will compete for hundreds of medals at stake as 13 UCI World Championships (each awarding several titles in different events) are brought together: 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 Trials.
All eyes on the rainbow jersey
The reduced format that begun in Chicago traveled around the globe until 1914, when it came to an abrupt end. Dutch Cor Blekemolen was the only rider to have been crowned before competitors left Copenhagen (Denmark) and the rest of the competition was canceled due to the outbreak of World War I.
Fortunately, the war came to an end and the UCI World Championships returned. It was time for them to grow and welcoming more and more athletes. The 1920 UCI Congress in Paris, France, was the opportunity for the Italian Federation to propose the creation of a World Championships for road races. The event was scheduled in Copenhagen, Denmark, the following year, open to male amateurs only.
The event quickly grew and by 1927 two races were held annually: one for the professionals, with Italy’s Alfredo Binda immediately delivering historical performances, and one for the amateurs, notably won by Belgium’s Eddy Merckx at 19 years of age (in 1964), before he became the “Cannibal” who would amass hundreds of victories and accolades.
The realm of UCI World Championships quickly extended to include indoor cycling (first edition in 1930) and then cyclo-cross (1950). Road and track female champions were crowned from 1958. BMX Racing (1986), trials (1987) and mountain bike (1990) joined in quick succession. The first UCI Para-cycling World Championships were held in the UCI World Cycling Centre in Aigle (Switzerland) in 2006. In recent years, new UCI World Championships have been added, highlighting the vitality and variety of cycling: Urban Cycling (2017), Cycling esport (2020) and Gravel (2022).
The champions of these disciplines come from many different backgrounds but they all share a passion for cycling and a common dream: to claim the rainbow jersey that was introduced a century ago at the 1922 UCI Track World Championships, before being gradually adopted by the other disciples. At the time, only a handful of these iconic jerseys were awarded in a few events. Now, all great cycling athletes can dream of the rainbow jersey, and fans will have the unique opportunity to witness all of these battles during the same period, this summer in Scotland and every four years thereafter, while separate UCI World Championships for the different disciplines will be held in the years between.
After the inaugural event in Scotland, the 2027 UCI Cycling World Championships will be organised in Haute-Savoie, France. That edition will bring together a total of 19 UCI World Championships, adding gravel, enduro, pump track, junior track, cycling esport and polo-bike. Meaning six more than we will witness in 2023 – and many many more since the very first event held in Chicago in 1893.