The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is pleased to announce that 12 of the 18 UCI WorldTeams will participate in this year’s men’s team time trial of the 2018 UCI Road World Championships, that will be held on the first day of competitions, on Sunday 23rd of September, starting in Ötztal, 62 kilometres away from the finish in Innsbruck.
The following teams will participate in this year’s men’s team time trial: AG2R La Mondiale, Astana Pro Team, BMC Racing Team, Bora-hansgrohe, Quick-Step Floors, Mitchelton-Scott, Movistar Team, Team Katusha Alpecin, Team Sunweb, Team Sky, Trek Segafredo, Team Lotto NL-Jumbo.
As part of the invitation made to all Austria-based UCI Continental Teams, Tirol Cycling Team, Hrinkow Advarics Cycleang Team and Team Felbermayr-Simplon Wels will join the team event.
The complete list of teams will be confirmed after 15 August based on qualification system.
For the women’s team time trial, invitations will go to the top 15 UCI Women’s Teams. Strong squads, such as defending UCI Champions Team Sunweb, have already shown an interest and a final decision will be taken after the 12 August official ranking. The qualification period will take into account the Postnord UCI WWT Vargarda WestSweden TTT (11 August), while the new team time trial during the Ladies Tour of Norway (16 August) and the Madrid Challenge by la Vuelta (15 September) will provide women’s teams with other opportunities to prepare for the UCI World Championships.
This is the last year that the team time trial for UCI registered teams will be organised at the UCI Road World Championships since the speciality joined the programme in 2012. The UCI, together with its stakeholders, is currently examining alternative options and from 2019, with the collaboration of the Yorkshire Organising Committee, the UCI will introduce a new format showcasing National Federations and their riders.