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The world champion's rainbow jersey is one of the most coveted jerseys in world cycling. Since its establishment in 1927, some of the best cyclists of all time have worn it: Alfredo Binda (1927, 1930, 1932), Learco Guerra (1931), Fausto Coppi (1953), Louison Bobet (1954), Rik Van Looy (1960, 1961), Rudi Altig (1966), Eddy Merckx (1967, 1974), Felice Gimondi (1973), Francesco Moser (1977), Bernard Hinault (1980), Greg Lemond (1983, 1989), Gianni Bugno (1991, 1992), Lance Armstrong (1993), Johan Museeuw (1996), Óscar Freire (1999, 2001, 2004), Mark Cavendish (2011), Peter Sagan (2015, 2016, 2017) and Julian Alaphilippe (2020, 2021) are some of the names on this impressive list of male winners. In addition, they have also been world champions Elsy Jacobs (1958), Yvonne Reynders (1959, 1961, 1963, 1966), Jeannie Longo (1985, 1986, 1987, 1989, 1995), Marianne Vos (2006, 2012, 2013), Anna Van der Breggen (2018, 2020) and Annemiek Van Vleuten (2019) in the female category.

Route

Both the men's and women's events take place mostly on the same urban circuit, which runs through the streets of the Australian city of Wollongong. Before the circuit, however, both races go up Mount Keira (6.6 km at 6.2%), the right place for adventurers who want to get into the day's breakaway to make their move.

The circuit, 16.5 km long, includes the climb to Mount Peasant (1 km at 8.7%) as the only elevation, although as always in the world championships, the distance will also play a key role. Women will have to complete 6 laps on the circuit for a total of 165 km, and men, 12 laps for a total of 268 km: without a doubt these are two races for resistant cyclists.

Women's Race Favorites

In a perfect season where she has won the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift and the Giro d'Italia Donne, Annemiek Van Vleuten (1200) has shown once again that she is the best climber in the world, and without a doubt she starts as the big favorite in the women's race. Demi Vollering (1200), Elisa Longo Borghini (1200), Cecile Uttrup Ludwig (1000), Katarzyna Niewiadoma (1000), Elise Chabbey (1000), Kristen Faulkner (1000), Grace Brown (800), Mavi Garcia (800), Marlen Reusser (800), Juliette Labous (1000), Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (800) and Niamh Fisher-Black (800) are other contenders in a race that might (just might) be too tough for Marianne Vos (1200), Elisa Balsamo (1000) and Lotte Kopecky (1000).

Men's Race Favorites

Wout Van Aert (1200), Tadej Pogačar (1200), Matthieu Van der Poel (1000), Remco Evenepoel (1200), Ethan Hayter (1000), Julian Alaphilippe (1000), Michael Matthews (1000) and Biniam Girmay (600) are some of the top favorites for the men's race.