For the first time in the 89-year history of the UCI Road World Championships, the event heads to the Middle East as Doha, Qatar chosen the host. Due to the heat of Qatar, the Worlds move from the traditional September date to mid-October.

The 2016 Worlds courses, on paper, look suited to the sprinters - the first time since 2011 in Copenhagen - but as the Tour of Qatar has proven since its introduction onto the calendar, the racing on offer is hardly ever a straight forward affair.

Taking place from October 9-16, the men and women's team time trial events open proceedings on the first day ,with the junior women's and men's U23 time trials the next offering. The junior men and women race against the clock on the 11th with the 12th entirely given over to the elite men.

October 13 marks the first of the road races with the U23 men to cover 166km on the Doha circuit before the rainbow jersey can be awarded. Friday the 14th is a day for the junior men and women before the big final weekend for the elite women's 134.5km race on the Saturday, and the elite men's 257.5km race on the Sunday.