On the fringes of the Tour of Qatar, Eddy Merckx said in an interview with the Journal of Sport pointed out that the Road World Championships, which up until now have always been held in September, will in all likelihood only take place in 2016 from October 9th to 16th.
The reason given by the Belgian, who organizes the Tour of Qatar and the Tour of Oman together with the agency ASO, which also organizes the Tour de France, was the prevailing weather conditions in Qatar at the time. On the one hand, the temperatures are then more tolerable. Also, you don't have to worry about rain anymore.
Merckx also commented on the planned construction of artificial hills for the World Cup. “The geography of the country is fascinating. There will be no boring races.” The Belgian referred above all to the wind, which as an executioner should ensure interesting races – just as he currently sees it within the Tour of Qatar.
Merckx will also be involved in planning the individual routes in 2016. According to him, the races will all start in Doha Corniche. The individual time trial will then cover a lap of 42 kilometers, the team time trial over 54 kilometers. In all probability, the road races will also use the time trial course before shorter laps are to be driven towards the end of the race.
There has been no reaction from the World Cycling Union UCI.
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