Brian Cookson, the President of British Cycling, revealed that they have targetted holding the most prestigious annual one-day event on the calendar within the next decade to capitalise on Britain's growing international reputation within the sport.

"We will bid for the World Road Championships," Cookson told cyclingnews.com.

"It's difficult in this country with the way the public sector is at the moment, but I think there are a number of places where we might do it successfully; maybe Wales, maybe Scotland, maybe London - I would think those places are the favourites.

"But we're in very preliminary discussions with those people."

The last time Britain hosted the event was in 1982 at Goodwood, when Italy's Giuseppe Saronni won the men's race and Britain's Mandy Jones the women's event.

Prior to that the only other occasion the event has been staged in Britain was at Leicester in 1970.

The Netherlands, Italy, Spain and the United States have been confirmed as hosts for the next four years, meaning the next available date is 2016, although Cookson admitted the earliest they could stage the event would probably be 2017.

"The last one was 1982, which is far too long ago," said Cookson, who was recently elected President of the UCI Road Commission.

"You need to plan six to eight years ahead with the UCI and other partners, and start raising awareness.

"But the fact Cav won this year has raised the profile and it increases the opportunity." 

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