The first edition of the World Road Championships took place in Adenau, in Germany, on 21st July, 1927. Alfredo Binda from Cittiglio won that edition and afterwards he succeeded again in other two editions, in 1930 and in 1932. During the heroic cycling’s years, the white roads ones, Binda, Ronsse (2 times) and Guerra alternated in winning the World title. The latter was nicknamed the “human locomotive” since on 26th August, 1931 he triumphed in the time trial in Copenaghen. The last Worlds before the stop due to the War took place on 5th September, 1938 in Valkenburg, Holland, and was win by Belgian Marcel Kint.

“Cycling hostilities” started again in Zurich in ’46. Swiss Hans Knecht won in his own country the Worlds where Fausto Coppi appeared for the first time. The Italian retired and young Rik Van Steenbergen placed third. In the following years Steenbergen would show all his class winning the Worlds three times: in 1949, 1956 and 1957.

The 1952 edition should had been the Gino Bartali’s one: the Luxembourg track was suitable for his climber characteristics but when he was on the point of crossing the finish-line a hand grasped his shorts and pushed him back until the 10th position. The whole podium was German, from Muller to Weilenmann to Hormann. On 30th August, 1953 Fausto Coppi succeeded in Lugano and on the Crespera climb (a real stepping-stone). Coppi had already begun the “Campionissimo” but he still missed the most prestigious seal: the World jersey. Then here’s a long parenthesis dedicated to sprinters from 1956 to 1963 (except for Baldini in 1958). In those year cycling changed from an heroic sport into a romantic one. In seventies it would become foamy. The name of winners were Van Steenbergen, Darrigade, Van Looy, Stablinski and Beheyet: the latter changed from an helper rider to a champion since in 1963 he pinched the title to a rider of the same nationality, Van Looy. His Majesty Rik II (as he was called to distinguish him from Rik I, Van Steenbergen) was so angry with the young rider to cry him that should be his last win.  

Eddy Merckx won for the first time in 1967 but he was already known for his victory in the ’64 Dilettanti Worlds. The Belgian cyclone won other two editions, in 1971 and 1974, and was very close to success in a pair of other occasions. He placed 4th in 1972, when Marino Basso won in Gap, and the following year when Felice Gimondi went up the higher step of the podium on the track of Barcelona. Extraordinary when Francesco Moser succeeded – it was in 1977 in San Cristobal, Venezuela – Merckx arrived last. 

In 1980 Bernard Hinault won one of the toughest editions in Sallanches. Nowadays there is still a rumour that the Breton himself chose the track.

In 1983 the World event - where Italians, Belgians, French’s, Dutch’s and Germans alternated until then – awarded the first trans-oceanic rider: American Greg Lemond won in Altenrhein, Switzerland. It was a real surprise, but six years later the American won again beating a young Russian: Dimitri Konyshev. In those two occasions cycling was really a “World” event in all respects: it was landed in America and had crossed the border of dilettantism of the East! Before then in Socialist countries professional riders were considered in the same way than soldiers: they could only race as “dilettanti”. As a matter of fact the World list of honour of Dilettanti is rich of names of East Germans, Polish’s and Russians. Eleven years later Latvian Romans Vainsteins celebrated the complete integration winning in Plouay beating Polish Spruch.

In the meantime supporters enjoyed the World encore of Gianni Bugno (’91 and ’92), and were surprised by cow-boy Lance Armstrong (1993) and bowed to Johan Museeuw (’96), the king of Classics. Also ’97 victory of French Brochard and the 1998 one of Camenzind were unexpected since they had always been considered very good helpers since then. 1999 Spanish Oscar Freire’s win in Verona seemed an isolated exploit. What a mistake! The Spanish would draw attention to himself again in 2000 (he took third) and succeeded in 2001 and in 2004.   

In 2002, in Zolder, here’s again Italy: the King Lion, Mario Cipollini, won beating McEwen and Zabel. The following year Spanish Igor Astarloa succeeded. In 2005 the World Champion was talented Belgian Tom Boonen. In 2006 the World's title has been conquered by Paolo Bettini in Salzburg, Austria.

That’s about professional competitions, but the World event has deeply changed during the years. The first innovation was initiated in 1958 when the International Cycling Association set up the women road trial that was conquered by Ely Jacobs. In 1962 it was the dilettanti’s turn with the 100 km team time trial that was added to the road competition (raced since 1921). Since 1972, when the Olympic games took place in Monaco, the Dilettanti World Championships didn’t take place (only in Olympic years).

The first men Junior World’s was raced in Lausanne in 1975: the winner was Roberto Visentini. The first women one took place in 1987 when French Catherine Marsal succeeded in Bergamo. The women 50 km team time trial was initiated always in that year in Villach, Austria, when the Russian team won.  

The last 100 km race took place in 1994, in Agrigento, Italy. Then the individual time trial for the new “Under 23” category was introduced in 1996. This was the same year in which the Olympic Games were held in Atlanta, which were the first Games to allow professional riders to take part. Two new rainbow jerseys were also introduced in Agrigento for the elite men’s and the elite women’s individual time trials.

The World Championships were held over a week-long period from 1997 to 2004, because the Under 23, the junior’s and the women’s (senior and junior) events were being held in addition to the elite competitions (road races and time trials).

The latest revolution is a contemporary one: the UCI abolished the Worlds’ junior events. So there are now six competitions: the Under 23 time trial and road race plus the elite women’s and the elite men’s time trials and road races.