Report suggests Austria will host 2018 road World Championships

Innsbruck will reportedly host the 2018 World Championships and will create a route suited to climbers

Innsbruck (Photo: Ikiwaner)

The peloton's best climbers will be licking their lips at the prospect of the 2018 World Championships heading to the Austrian city of Innsbruck, if reports are to be believed.

French website DirectVelo reports that Innsbruck will create a circuit for the climbers, with 4,000 and 4,500 metres of ascent on the road race course, although a route hasn't formally been agreed with the UCI.

Austria last held the Worlds in 2006, when Salzburg played host and saw Paolo Bettini and Marianne Vos crowned road race champions. Before that, Villach hosted the 1987 race as Stephen Roche completed his Giro d'Italia, Tour de France and World Championships triple crown.

The hosts of the next two World Championships have already been confirmed, with Doha (Qatar) set to welcome riders in October 2016 and Bergen (Norway) the location for the 2017 event.

Innsbruck has reportedly beaten out a bit from Yorkshire and one from Colombia to host the Worlds in 2018.

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Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.