Cycling's first "Super World Championships" start in Glasgow

Cycling's first 'Super World Cup' started on Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland. Over the next 11 days, more than 200 rainbow jerseys in 13 different disciplines will be handed out, a first in the sport's history.

Disciplines such as road cycling, track cycling, BMX and mountain biking will show up in Glasgow in the coming days. But more niche events like Freestyle Park, Freestyle Flatland, a mountain bike marathon, indoor cycling, trials and para-cycling are also on the programme.

Belgian favourites

Cycling fans are expecting Belgium to deliver strong performances. World Champion Remco Evenepoel, Wout van Aert and Jasper Philipsen are among the favourites for the road race event. Evenepoel and Van Aert also have a shot at the time trial. Lotte Kopecky, who was one of the highlights of the recent Tour de France Femmes, is aiming for medals on both the road and the track races.

After this first edition, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) plans to put a "Super World Championships" on the agenda every four years, in the year before the Olympic Games. In 2027, the event will be hosted by the French region of Haute-Savoie in the Alps. There, cyclists in 19 different disciplines will compete for a rainbow jersey.

^{© BELGA PHOTO DAVID PINTENS}