Cycling-Alaphilippe aims for rainbow hat-trick in Wollongong

Cycling - 2022 Tour de France Presentation - Palais des Congres, Paris, France - October 14, 2021 Julian Alaphilippe during the presentation for the 2022 Tour de France and the Tour de France Femmes REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes/Files

SYDNEY (Reuters) - Australian cycling fans will get their first chance to witness elite racing after two years of COVID-19 isolation when the world road race championships come to the coastal city of Wollongong from this weekend.

While passion for cycling might not be as intense in Australia as it is in its European heartland, pelotons are a familiar sight on the weekend roads and significant numbers of fans stay up all night to watch the Grand Tours on TV.