The 1995 road race podium in Colombia. Olano flanked by Miguel Indurain and Marco Pantani(Image credit: Sirotti)
Not many riders have defended the title but Gianni Bugno managed it in 1992(Image credit: Sirotti)
Phil Anderson leads through the feed zone, with Greg Lemond just behind him (Image credit: Sirotti)
Johan Museeuw sprints clear of Mauro Gianetti to win the title in 1996(Image credit: Sirotti)
Legendary Alfredo Martini hangs out of the car in 1988(Image credit: Sirotti)
It's 1984 and Greg Lemond is leading Italian Marino Amadori(Image credit: Sirotti)
Landis marks moves at the front of the field in 2003(Image credit: Sirotti)
Now with Leopard Trek, Kim Andersen makes a move off the front in the 1982 race(Image credit: Sirotti)
A baby faced Laurent Jalabert finished second to Gianni Bugno in 1992. It was the closest the Frenchman ever came to victory in the road race(Image credit: Sirotti)
The 2009 Italian team line up at the start. As three-time defending champions the pressure was on. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Andy Hampsten races clear in 1989. Team mate Greg Lemond would go on to win the race(Image credit: Sirotti)
Alessandro Paganessi (Italy) in Altenrhein in 1983(Image credit: Sirotti)
Phil Anderson racing for Australia in 1983(Image credit: Sirotti)
Romāns Vainšteins was strong all season in 2000. A move to Domo followed but he famously turned up to training camp over weight(Image credit: Sirotti)
Steve Bauer on the attack in 1984(Image credit: Sirotti)
Mark Cavendish in Geelong in 2010(Image credit: Sirotti)
The Geelong peloton. 2010 marked Australia's first World road race(Image credit: Sirotti)
Teammates turned foes: Frank Schleck and Fabian Cancellara(Image credit: Sirotti)
The Italian road team crest a climb in 2010(Image credit: Sirotti)
2010 champion Thor Hushovd(Image credit: Sirotti)
Oscar Freire wins his third title in 2004(Image credit: Sirotti)
Oscar Freire proved 1999 was no fluke with his win in 2001(Image credit: Sirotti)
Tom Boonen was Belgium's first winner since 1996.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Paolo Bettini had a poor 2007 by his standards but made up for that with a wining ride in Stuttgart(Image credit: Sirotti)
Maurizio Fondriest in 1987. A year later he would win the race(Image credit: Sirotti)
A young Franco Ballerini racing in 1986(Image credit: Sirotti)
Igor Astarloa leads home a Spanish one-two in Hamilton, 2003. Valverde took silver(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong solos over the line in Oslo in 1993. Rival Jan Ullrich won the U23 race that same year. (Image credit: Sirotti)
Lance Armstrong smiles, Miguel Indurain looks less than impressed(Image credit: Sirotti)
Moreno Argentin and Francesco Moser in the pack in 1983(Image credit: Sirotti)
Jonathan Boyer (USA) in 1984(Image credit: Sirotti)
Gianni Bugno after his win in 1992(Image credit: Sirotti)
The late Laurent Fignon (France) in 1989(Image credit: Sirotti)
Cadel Evans becomes Australia's first winner. 2009 was one of the most exciting Worlds in recent memory(Image credit: Sirotti)
Thierry Claveyrolat sadly took his own life in 1999. Here he is racing for France in 1989.(Image credit: Sirotti)
Mario Cipollini had a stellar year in 2003 and capped it with the rainbow jersey in Zolder(Image credit: Sirotti)
Cadel Evans's wife shows her emotion as she watches the Australian win the Worlds in 2009 (Image credit: Sirotti)
A exhausted Fabian Cancellara crosses the line in 2009. The Swiss rider was one of the strongest riders in the race but was beaten through better tactics rather than just pure strength(Image credit: Sirotti)
Oscar Camenzind rode away from a group of favourites in 1998 to take the title(Image credit: Sirotti)
Lucien Van Impe heads to the start race in 1983. The Belgian never made the podium during his career(Image credit: Sirotti)
The UCI World Championships have thrown up some of the most memorable moments in cycling. With the help of our Italian photographer correspondent Sirotti, we take a look back at some of the most iconic riders and races from the last 30 years.
Sirotti has been photographing cycling races for a number of decades and has provided the sport with timeless photos. In this selection we pick out some of our favourites: from Armstrong to Bugno, Lemond to Fignon.
There are also shots of a very young Maurizio Fondriest before he won the worlds title in Belgium in 1988 and and even younger Lance Armstrong after he won in Oslo in 1993.
Sirotti also travelled to Duitama, Colombia in 1995 to capture Marco Pantani, as he tried to win the world title on one of the toughest courses ever used. Abraham Olano won, ahead of Pantani and Miguel Indurain.
There are also images of Mario Cipollini winning in Zolder, Belgium in 2002 and of Tom Boonen's perfect sprint in Madrid in 2005.
More recent images recall Cadel Evans victory in Mendrisio in 2009. Evans celebrated and so did his partner Chiara, confirming the unique emotions of the World Championships.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Thank you for reading 5 articles in the past 30 days*
