Cycling World Championships Kick Off Today In Glasgow

Plenty of British cycling fans have been eagerly awaiting the first week of August as the first combined UCI Cycling World Championships begin today at the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome in Glasgow.

The BBC will be broadcasting the eleven day event, which comes to an end on August 13 and it is anticipated that around about 2,700 riders will compete for the rainbow jerseys that are on offer across the seven separate disciplines on offer, and potentially more than 200 world titles could be on the line and available for new racers to put their names in the history books.

With road racing, time trials, track, BMX, mountain bike, indoor cycling and para cycling (fully integrated for the first time ever) will all be on show for spectators entertainment, with only cyclo-cross missing as that took place last February in the Netherlands.

In the USA betting growing scene, wagering on niche sports is getting more and more popular. US sportsbooks in all legal stats now offer odds on cycling tournaments. It will certainly be a packed schedule over the eleven days and for those fans who like a small flutter, there are endless sportsbook options, offers and odds available with some of the NJ betting websites like betMGM or Borgata sports. It is expected that Jasper Philipsen will be one of the riders to dominate this year, and last years favourite, Mathieu Van Der Poel goes into Thursdays kick off with odds of +650 to finally win this race. Reigning champion Evenepoel comes in as an underdog this time around, with odds of +1000, but there is almost something for everyone depending on what your preferred battle type will be.

In the build up to the event starting, the BBC themselves namechecked tandem stoker Lora Fachie who will be making her return to the track having taken time off following the birth of her son last year, and plenty of other familiar names will feature like two time Olympic champion Katie Archibald, Tokyo 2020 silver and bronze winner Jack Carlin and even Kadeena Cox will be making an appearance as she broadens her own horizons in sport.

In fact, Fachie made the perfect start to her return on Wednesday, and ahead of the racing starting for real on Thursday, she qualified fastest for the women's B individual pursuit. Fachie and pilot Corrine Hall managed to finished 0.204 seconds ahead of Great Britain team mates Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl.

It is certainly a statement of intent from the two time Paralympic champion as she returns to the sport having given birth to son Fraser back in October.

"It felt incredibly emotional returning to racing with my son there. It spurred me on to qualify fastest, just under two seconds off my own world record. Not bad considering I'm only nine months post partum."

Given the margin of the victory, Friday's final between the British pairing of Fachie & Hall and Unwin & Holl could be an incredibly close, tight and tasty battle in its own rights.

Husband and 16 time world champion, Neil, will also be in action on the Para track during the meet and they will both be hoping to come out with further success.

Coverage across the BBC will be comprehensive, with fans available to watch on both terrestrial channels, as well as on the Red Button and their internet streaming services.