Belgium has won the most men’s UCI Road World Championship road races.
Belgium’s success is closely connected with its long tradition of professional road racing, especially in the Flemish and Walloon regions. Belgian champions have included Georges Ronsse, Rik Van Steenbergen, Rik Van Looy, Eddy Merckx, Freddy Maertens and Remco Evenepoel.
The championships began in 1927 for professionals, while earlier editions had included amateur competition. The elite men’s road race is contested over a single course, and the winner receives the distinctive rainbow jersey for the following year.
Belgium’s total exceeds that of other historically powerful cycling nations such as Italy and France. The result reflects repeated victories across many decades rather than the dominance of one individual rider.