September Race Overview

September is a big month on the cycling calendar with the last two weeks of the Vuelta a España, the Canadian Classics, the World Championships, and several other races.

The headliner of the first half of September is, of course, the ending of the final Grand Tour of the year, La Vuelta a España with big mountain stages, flat sprints, and everything in between.

Meanwhile, other races will also be on the program. The women will take on the WorldTour race Simac Ladies Tour (2–7 September), while the men race the Tour of Britain on the same dates. At the same time, the Tour of Istanbul will take place (4–7 September). On the weekend, two one-day races are also on the schedule: on Saturday, the Maryland Cycling Classic in the USA for both men and women (6 September), and on Sunday the men will take on GP Industria & Artigianato (7 September).

Then it is time for the finale week of La Vuelta and meanwhile, other riders will take on a number of other races:

Women

• À Travers les Hauts de France 🇫🇷 (13 September)

• La Choralis Fourmies 🇫🇷 (14 September)

• GP Stuttgart & Region 🇩🇪 (14 September)

• Trofeo Matteotti 🇮🇹 (14 September)

Men

• Tour of Binzhou 🇨🇳 (8–9 September)

• Giro della Toscana 🇮🇹 (10 September)

• Coppa Sabatini 🇮🇹 (11 September)

• GP Québec 🇨🇦 (12 September)

• Memorial Pantani 🇮🇹 (13 September)

• GP de Fourmies 🇫🇷 (14 September)

• GP Montréal 🇨🇦 (14 September)

The headliners here are the Canadian Classics: GP Québec (12 September) and GP Montréal (14 September)  which often deliver exciting racing and attract big names. This year, just like last year, Tadej Pogačar is among the riders likely to start these two races: Riders like Wout van Aert, Matej Mohorič and Arnaud de Lie are also on the provisional startlist for these races.

After the Vuelta Espana awaits even more racing with stage races like Okolo Slovenska and Tour de Luxembourg both running from September 17th to september 21st. The latter will likely see Mads Pedersen on the start list just two days after finishing La Vuelta in Madrid.

The stage race Tour of Huangshan 🇨🇳 will also take place in this period from 19–21 September.

Meanwhile there is also a bunch of one day races on the programme:

Women

• Grand Prix de Wallonie 🇧🇪 (17 September)

• Chrono de Gatineau 🇨🇦 (19 September)

• Tour de Gatineau 🇨🇦 (20 September)

Men

• Grand Prix de Wallonie 🇧🇪 (17 September)

• Kamp van Vlaanderen 🇧🇪 (19 September)

• SUPER 8 Classic 🇧🇪 (20 September)

• Giro della Romagna 🇮🇹 (21 September)

• GP d’Isbergues 🇫🇷 (21 September)

• Gooikse Pijl 🇧🇪 (21 September)

And then… it is time for one of the big events of the year to begin, the World Championships, where riders will represent their countries in the fight for rainbow jerseys and medals. 🌈

First up is the time trial,⏱️ which will take place for both Elite men and women on 21 September. Then comes the mixed relay on 24 September before the finale weekend with the road races.

Saturday is for the Elite women, who will take on 164.6 km with 3,350 meters of elevation. Next up are the Elite men on Sunday, facing no less than 267.5 km with 5,475 meters of elevation.

Apart from the Elite riders, U23 and Junior riders will also be in action during the week, both in time trials and road races.

• U23 men and women take on their time trials on Monday 22 September.

• U23 women race their road race on Thursday 25 September, while the U23 men race on Friday 26 September.

• On Friday 26 September the Junior men will also race their road race, while the Junior women’s road race is on Saturday.

• Both Junior men and women have their time trials on Tuesday 23 September.

During the World Championships, a few other races for the men will also take place:

• Omloop van het Houtland 🇧🇪 (24 September)

• Paris–Chauny 🇫🇷 (28 September)

• Tour de Langkawi 🇲🇾 (28 September – 5 October)

  
  

In the final days of September, the Tour de Langkawi will continue while Paris–Chauny begins (30 September – 5 October).

Then October begins, and it is time for another championship, this time not fighting for rainbow stripes, but for the European Championships and the jersey that comes along with that title. A Jersey that Tim Merlier has raced in for the past year. 🇪🇺