The World Championships start traditionally with a time trial on Thursday with 617 riders from 44 different countries at the start. England is the best represented nation with 72 participants but also France (55), Australia (52) and the homecountry Italy (52) are well represented.
The course has a first loop going out of the city to a higher point before returning over the same road on a downhill second part split with cones in the middle. The majority of the road has been repaved specifically for this event so everybody can expect smooth asphalt and fast times.
The qualifier event on the same course end of September last year had a winning time of 29:09 in an average speed of 45.2 km/h while the fastest female rode the same distance in a time of 33:13 which is just under 40 km/h average.
The first rider to start from the startpodium is Janice Una Houghton-Wallace from Great Britain who will open the female 65+ category. There is a 2h break at noon and the last rider is Belgian Hophra Gerard who is expected to finish at 17h45.
Podiumceremonies will be in the city center at 18h30.