Road World Championships, Florence

  • Dates: Sunday, 22 September - Sunday, 29 September

Coverage: Men's time trial (Wed), women's road race (Sat) and men's road race (Sun) live on BBC Two, Red Button and BBC Sport website (UK only). Live text commentary on BBC Sport website of men's time trial, women's road race and men's road race

Sir Bradley Wiggins feels even better prepared for the Road World Championships time trial than he did for his win at the London Olympics.

Wiggins, 33, secured an impressive time trial victory on the way to winning last week's Tour of Britain.

He believes he is now ready to challenge for a first road world title in Italy on Wednesday.

Time trial contenders

Fabian Cancellara (Swi) FOUR WINS: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2010 THIRD: 2005, 2011

Tony Martin (Ger, pictured) TWO WINS: 2011, 2012 SECOND: 2009, 2010

Sir Bradley Wiggins (GB) SECOND: 2011

"I've probably done more specific work for this one than [the Olympics]," Wiggins said.

"I'm as prepared as I'll ever be for a time-trial. I feel good, just focused and ready to go.

"I know what I've got to do, I've just got to go out and put it together."

Over the 58km course in Tuscany, Wiggins is scheduled to go off third last in the field at 14:09 BST, just after the 2012 world silver medallist Taylor Phinney.

Five-time world champion Fabian Cancellara is off 90 seconds after Wiggins, with two-time defending world champion Tony Martin last to start at 14:12 BST.

Great Britain's Alex Dowsett, British time trial champion on three occasions, goes at 13:52 BST.

Wiggins feels victory in the Road World Championships would be the perfect way to end a difficult year that saw him forced out of the Giro d'Italia because of illness and then miss the chance to retain his Tour de France title.

He added: "It would be fantastic, just to add it to the Olympic title would be up there with my best achievements.

"It's a beautiful course. It'll be one of the best courses I've ridden. It's very straightforward.

"It's going to be tough for a lot of people but if you're in good shape, it's a great course."