Today marks the beginning of the highly anticipated UCI Cycling World Championships 2023, featuring a thrilling array of events on its opening day. The excitement unfolds at the esteemed Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome, setting the stage for the debut medal contests in both track and para-track cycling disciplines.
TL;DR: The 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships will be shown on BBC iPlayer for free for those in the UK. Globally, you can also catch all the action using a VPN and connecting to a UK server.
Live Streams for UCI Cycling World Championships
- United States — Streaming on FloBikes (Premium)
- United Kingdom — Access via BBC iPlayer (Free)
- Australia — Available on SBS on Demand (Free)
- Global — Experience with ExpressVPN, 30-day money-back guarantee
The UCI Cycling World Championships will run until Sunday, August 13, with the event bringing together approximately 8,000 athletes, all contending for 200 medals. The backdrop for the 2023 event is the scenic charm of Glasgow and various other alluring spots scattered across Scotland. With the introduction of a new four-year cycle that positions the championships a year ahead of the Summer Olympics, nearly all cycling disciplines are encompassed within this event.
Those in the UK, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, or Belgium, can watch the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships for free via live streams. These countries benefit from free-to-air coverage: BBC and BBC iPlayer in the UK, SBS and SBS on Demand in Australia, France TV Sport in France, Rai Sport in Italy, RTVE in Spain, and Sporza in Belgium.
If you're on vacation, away from home for any reason, or simply want to connect to a UK live stream; there's a solution. You can leverage a VPN to enjoy the coverage just as you would from the UK.
How to Watch for Free via a VPN - Global Live Streams
A VPN seamlessly establishes your online presence in a select country, irrespective of your physical location. This enables access to the streaming services you want, regardless of where you are in the world – as long as you have an internet connection.
For instance, an individual currently in the United States could seamlessly stream the UCI Cycling World Championships via BBC iPlayer, even though they're not physically present in the UK. These services are legitimate, cost-effective, and user-friendly. Here's how you can utilize one:
- Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN, like ExpressVPN
- Download the app on your preferred device (compatible with Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more).
- Open the app and connect to any server in the United Kingdom
- Sign-up for BBC iPlayer (the service is free, don't worry)
- Clear your cache if you encounter any issues
Editor's Note: You'll need a UK postcode to sign up for BBC iPlayer, but it isn't checked, so you can use any random location such as 10 Downing Street's SW1A 2AA.
Which VPN is The Best for Streaming?
Premium VPNs aren't cheap, but they could be worth the investment if you haven't already secured yourself one this year. You might take one look at their price tag for a year's subscription and think it's too much, but consider how much you get from them.
You can unlock geo-restricted content from anywhere in the world (such as Japanese Netflix, The FA Community Shield, or the Women's World Cup) and enjoy a whole new world of movies and TV-shows without having to pay extra for them.
Events like the Champions League final, FA Cup final, Europa League final, and Europa Conference League final are all also broadcast in the UK for free. You'll end up using your VPN more than you'd think, and making your money back even faster.
They are also incredibly useful beyond just bypassing geoblocking. They're great for avoiding server issues on games or restrictive skill-based-matchmaking (SBMM), online data encryption, shielding your identity, lightning-quick connectivity, and ensuring access to otherwise restricted sites. It's a seriously good investment.
UCI Cycling World Championships 2023 Schedule:
BMX FREESTYLE FLATLAND
- Tuesday, August 8
Qualifying - Wednesday, August 9
Semi-finals - Thursday, August 10
Finals
BMX FREESTYLE PARK
- Saturday, August 5
Qualifying - Sunday, August 6
Semi-finals - Monday, August 7
Finals
BMX RACING
- Sunday, August 6 - Wednesday, August 9
BMX Racing Challenge - Saturday, August 12
BMX Racing Championships Qualifying - Sunday, August 13
BMX Racing Championships Finals
GRAN FONDO
- Friday, August 4
Road Race - Monday, August 7
Individual Time Trial
INDOOR CYCLING
- Friday, August 11
Artistic Cycling Qualifying & Finals - Saturday, August 12
Artistic Cycling Qualifying & Finals - Sunday, August 13
Artistic Cycling Qualifying & Finals - Friday, August 11
Cycle-Ball Group games - Saturday, August 12
Cycle-Ball Group games - Sunday, August 13
Cycle-Ball Finals
MOUNTAIN BIKE CROSS-COUNTRY
- Tuesday, August 8
Cross-Country Short Track Qualifying - Wednesday, August 9
E-MTB Cross-Country
Cross-Country Team Relay - Thursday, August 10
Cross-Country Olympic Juniors
Cross-Country Short Track Finals - Friday, August 11
Cross-Country Olympic U23s - Saturday, August 12
Cross-Country Olympic Elite
MOUNTAIN BIKE CROSS-COUNTRY MARATHON
- Sunday, August 6
Mountain Bike Cross-country Marathon
MOUNTAIN BIKE DOWNHILL
- Thursday, August 3
Qualifying - Friday, August 4
Qualifying & Finals - Saturday, August 5
Finals
PARA-CYCLING ROAD
- Wednesday, August 9
Individual Time Trial - Thursday, August 10
Individual Time Trial - Friday, August 11
Road Race - Saturday, August 12
Road Race - Sunday, August 13
Team Relay
PARA-CYCLING TRACK
- Thursday, August 3 - Tuesday, August 8
Para-Cycling Track
ROAD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Saturday, August 5
Road Race Juniors - Sunday, August 6
Road Race Elite Men - Saturday, August 12
Road Race U23 Men - Sunday, August 13
Road Race U23 & Elite Women - Tuesday, August 8
Team Time Trial Mixed Relay - Wednesday, August 9
Individual Time Trial U23 Men - Thursday, August 10
Individual Time Trial Junior & Elite Women - Friday, August 11
Individual Time Trial Junior & Elite Men
TRACK WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- Thursday, August 3 - Wednesday, August 9
Track
TRIALS
- Wednesday, August 9
Teams Finals - Thursday, August 10
20 Inch Semi-finals - Friday, August 11
20 Inch Semi-finals - Saturday, August 12
20 Inch Finals - Thursday, August 10
26 Inch Semi-finals - Friday, August 11
26 Inch Semi-finals - Saturday, August 12
26 Inch Semi-finals
Robert Anderson is a deals expert and Commerce Editor for IGN. You can follow him @robertliam21 on Twitter.
