A look back at the road race from previous decades
Image 1 of 43
Claude Criquielion picks up his bike after being barged by Steve Bauer in the finale (Image credit: John Pierce/Photosport International)
Image 2 of 43
Franco Ballerini enjoying a lighter moment before the Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 3 of 43
1987 Worlds winner Stephen Roche (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 4 of 43
Russian Dimitri Konychev shows off his silver medal from 1989 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 5 of 43
The 1989 Worlds podium in Chambéry (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 6 of 43
Sean Kelly makes his way to the podium after the 1989 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 7 of 43
Greg LeMond wears a pink cap after winning the 1989 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 8 of 43
Steve Bauer of Canada before the 1998 Worlds. He would eventually be disqualified from the race (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 9 of 43
1998 Worlds winner Maurizio Fondriest with Ivano Fanini in Ronse (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 10 of 43
Denmark's Rolf Sorenson ahead of the 1998 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 11 of 43
Denmark's Brian Holm ahead of the 1991 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 12 of 43
Miguel Indurain looking relaxed ahead of the 1991 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 13 of 43
Sean Kelly chats the Belgians ahead of the 1991 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 14 of 43
Franco Ballerini was a constant presence in the Italian team at the Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 15 of 43
The French duo of Luc Leblanc (gold) and Richard Virenque (bronze) after the 1994 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 16 of 43
A young Lance Armstrong at the 1993 Worlds winners press conference (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 17 of 43
Irish duo Sean Kelly and Stephen Roche at the 1993 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 18 of 43
Gianni Bugno shows off his 1992 rainbow jersey (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 19 of 43
The podium from the 1992 Worlds with Bugno backing up his 1991 victory (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 20 of 43
Francesco Moser shakes the hand of Gianni Bugno after the later's 1991 Worlds triumph (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 21 of 43
Gianni Bugno on the podium bout to collect his first rainbow jersey in 1991 (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 22 of 43
Greg LeMond with his family after the 1998 Worlds in Ronse (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 23 of 43
1987 Worlds winner Stephen Roche of Ireland (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 24 of 43
Just in case you weren't sure where the 1985 Worlds were hosted... (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 25 of 43
Spainards Miguel Indurain and Abraham Olano chat before the 1995 Worlds (Image credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport)
Image 26 of 43
A spectacular fall for Lars Michaelsen during the 1993 Worlds (Image credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport)
Image 27 of 43
1997 Worlds winner Laurent Brochard in the rainbow jersey (Image credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport)
Image 28 of 43
The 1986 Worlds podium with Moreno Argentin in the rainbow jersey (Image credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport)
Image 29 of 43
Johan Museeuw of Belgium wins the 1996 Worlds (Image credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport)
Image 30 of 43
Claude Criquielion hits the deck in the 1988 Worlds in a move that would see Steve Bauer disqualified with Italian Maurizio Fondriest taking the win (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Image 31 of 43
The first rainbow jersey of the 2000s went to Romāns Vainšteins of Latvia (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
Image 32 of 43
Bernard Hinault leads the peloton during the 1986 Worlds (Image credit: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images Sport)
Image 33 of 43
Pedro Delgado with Spain at the 1987 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 34 of 43
Juan Fernández Martín goes on the attack at the 1984 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 35 of 43
The peloton climbing during the 1984 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 36 of 43
The front end of the race at the 1983 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 37 of 43
The Italian team at the front of the race during the 1983 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 38 of 43
Claudio Corti at the 1984 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 39 of 43
Adri van der Poel of the Netherlands at the 1984 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 40 of 43
Franceso Moser goes full gas at the 1984 Worlds (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 41 of 43
Robert Millar in an exclusive bunch during the 1984 Worlds in Barcelona (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 42 of 43
It's hard to miss Laurent Fignon and his headband (Image credit: Fotoreporter Sirotti)
Image 43 of 43
1996 Worlds winner Johan Museeuw with three-time rainbow jersey winner Eddy Merckx (Image credit: Tim de Waele/TDWSport.com)
This Sunday marks the 83rd running of the elite men's UCI Road World Championships and the first time the event has been held in the middle east. Since the first edition of the Worlds was held back in 1927 with Nürburgring playing host and Italian Alfredo Binda claiming the gold, the event has travelled the world with editions being held in Europe, North America, South America and Australia.
Alfredo Binda, Rik Van Steenbergen, Óscar Freire and Eddy Merckx hold the record for the most wins with three rainbow jerseys while Rik van Looy and Greg LeMond both won the race on two occasions and also finished with silver on two other occasions.
Peter Sagan will be aiming to emulate Belgians Georges Ronsse (1928–29), Rik Van Steenbergen 1956–57), Rik van Looy (1960–61), and Italians Gianni Bugno, and most recently Paolo Bettini in 2006-07, in defending the title he won in Richmond last September. The first sprint friendly parcours since Copenhagen in 2011 has provided several talking points with the hot weather and potential for cross-winds ensuring that there is no clear favourite for the gold medal. You can read Cyclingnews' full race preview by clicking here for your one-stop guide to the Doha Worlds.
Cyclingnews has looked back through our archives to bring you some of the most memorable photos from the World Championships, starting with the early 1980's through to the late 1990's.
Sign up to the Cyclingnews Newsletter. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how we hold your data, please see our privacy policy
Thank you for signing up to Cycling News. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
