2015 World Road Cycling Championships
The “Worlds”, as it is called is one of the most prestigious cycling events of the year. The event consists of time trials and road races for all categories of men and women at all skill levels ranging from the teenaged juniors up to the elite racers who make up the top World Tour Teams you see at the Tour de France. The Worlds are run like the Olympics in that instead of racing for the pro trade teams they normally rider for, riders are representing the countries they’re from. Consequently, you will see riders that are normally fierce competitors from teams such as BMC or Sky are now riding for each other’s benefit representing their nation. This once a year change makes for some unusual tactics and strategies.
In honor of the achievement, the winner of each race gets to wear the special “rainbow” jersey for the entire next season of racing immediately identifying him or her as the current world champion. It’s quite an honor.
The elite men’s road race was the marquee event - 16 laps around a 16 kilometer circuit through downtown Richmond including two steep cobbled climbs per lap much like you’d find in the spring classics held in Belgium. Although it was generally overcast, the rains let up for most of the road races so the cobbles stayed dry instead of slippery and wet. A good thing that, since the 23rd street climb was a brutally steep 20% grade. I can’t imagine trying to get traction over those bumpy cobbles when they’re wet!
Fominykh (Kazakhstan) rolls out from the start of the elite men's time trial, 2015 UCI Road World Championships
Some of the fans were scary at the start of the 2015 UCI World Championships Elite Men's Time Trial held at King's Dominion Amusement Park
Luis Leon Sanchez (Spain) rips one of the final turns in the men's Time Trial near the finish in downtown Richmond, 2015 UCI Road World Championships
Elbourdainy (Qatar) is a blur as he speeds down the streets of downtown Richmond during elite men's time trial, 2015 UCI Road World Championships
Even the birds came out to watch the men's Time Trial at the 2015 UCI Road World Championships in Richmond Virginia
future BMC riders at the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, Virginia
Sergent (New Zealand) pushes hard for the final 300 meters to the finish line of elite men's time trial, 2015 UCI Road World Championships
Kueng (Switzerland) hammers the last 200 meters of elite men's time trial, 2015 UCI Road World Championships
Polish rider tucks in tight for the men's Time Trial, 2015 UCI Road World Championships
Castroviejo (Spain) gest aero as he approaches the finish of elite men's time trial, 2015 UCI Road World Championships
Tom Boonen (Belguim), UCI 2015 Road Worlds
Emma White leads the field up the 23rd St. climb in the Junior Women's Road Race at the 2015 UCI World Road Championships
Feeling the need for some "luck of the Irish" on the steep climbs during the Junior Women's Road Race at the 2015 UCI World Road Championships
the peloton races along the elevated train tracks on Dock Street, U23 Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Championships
Elevated train tracks overshadow the peloton along Dock Street, U23 Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Championships
the large field of the U23 Men's Road Race negotiates the narrow, but steep cobbled climb up Libby Hill, 2015 UCI World Championships
U23 Men's Road Race along Broad Steet in downtown Richmond, 2015 UCI World Championships
U23 Men's Road Race top three show off their medals L-R: Silver-Consonni (Italy) Gold-Ledanois (France), Bronze-Turgis (France), 2015 UCI World Championships
USA fans greet Evelyn Stevens (USA) on the cobbled climb up Libby Hill, Elite Women's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Road Championships
Elite Women's podium L-R: Silver-Van Der Breggen(Netherlands), Gold-Armitstead (Great Britain), Bronze-Guarnier (USA), 2015 UCI World Road Championships
Team Italia at the sign-in for the Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
riders roll past the greenery along East Main St., Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
Norway Corner on the Libby Hill climb, Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
Ben King (USA) meets Ben King fans on Libby Hill, Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
sheer pandemonium on the 23rd Street climb, Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
Tom Boonen and his Belgium teammate feel at home on the steep cobbles of 23rd Street, Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
Taylor Phinney (USA) hammers the cobbled on 23rd Street climb, Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
the peloton drilling it on Broad Street racing towards the finish line during the Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
Peter Sagan (Slovakia) easily wins the gold at the Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com
Peter "the Hulk" Sagan (Slovakia) gold medal winner on the podium with silver medal winner Matthews (Australia) & bronze medal winner Navardauskas (Lithuania), Elite Men's Road Race, 2015 UCI World Cycling Championships. daverphoto.com