76th Cycling World Championship Road Race to be held

On Sunday, 27 September, the 76th edition of the Cycling World Championship Road Race will be held in Mendrisio, Switzerland.

Italy has won the last three editions: Paolo Bettini (2006 and 2007) and Alessandro Ballan (2008).

According to Infostrada Sports, Italy can become the first country ever to win the World Championship Road Race four times in a row.

Italy (1930-1932 and 2006-2008) and Belgium (1948-1950 and 1955-1957) are the only two countries to have won the world title in three consecutive editions.

Most successive wins by country – Men’s World Cycling Championship Road Race

# Country Years

3 Italy 2006 (Paolo Bettini), 2007 (Paolo Bettini), 2008 (Alessandro Ballan)

3 Italy 1930 (Alfredo Binda), 1931 (Learco Guerra), 1932 (Alfredo Binda)

3 Belgium 1948 (Briek Schotte), 1949 (Rik Van Steenbergen), 1950 (Briek Schotte)

3 Belgium 1955 (Stan Ockers), 1956 (Rik Van Steenbergen), 1957 (Rik Van Steenbergen)

2 Belgium 1928 (Georges Ronsse), 1929 (Georges Ronsse)

2 Belgium 1937 (Eloï Meulenberg), 1938 (Marcel King)

2 Belgium 1960 (Rik Van Looy), 1961 (Rik Van Looy)

2 Belgium 1970 (Jean-Pierre Monseré), 1971 (Eddy Merckx)

2 Italy 1972 (Marino Basso), 1973 (Felice Gimondi)

2 Netherlands 1978 (Gerrie Knetemann), 1979 (Jan Raas)

2 Italy 1991 (Gianni Bugno), 1992 (Gianni Bugno)

2 Spain 2003 (Igor Astarloa), 2004 (Óscar Freire)