The 2006 edition of the men's UCI Road World Championships Road Race took place on September 24, 2006, in the Austrian city of Salzburg. Reigning Olympic champion and Italian Paolo Bettini captured the gold medal and the rainbow jersey as the 2006 World Cycling Champion. The 36-year-old German sprinter Erik Zabel took the silver medal and UCI ProTour winner Alejandro Valverde of Spain captured third place for the bronze medal. A total of 136 cyclists actually finished the race, with Slovakia's Roman Broniš in last place (+ 13'38").

Final classification

Selected riders

Based on the results of the riders in the UCI ProTour and UCI Continental Circuits in 2006, all nations have received a number of riders they can send to the championships. The number of allowed riders is different for each continent: All nations are allowed to select reserves too, 5 reserves for nations with 9 riders, 3 reserves for nations with 6 riders, 2 reserves for nations with 3 riders and 1 reserve for nations with 1 rider.

Nations allowed nine riders

Australia

On September 14, the selection was released:

Belgium

National Coach: Carlo Bomans On September 11, the selection was released: Also 5 reserves were appointed:

France

Selection released on September 12:

Germany

On September 11, the first selection was released, but since then many things have changed. Matthias Kessler and Jens Voigt have refused their selection as they claim to be "too tired after a long tiring season". Andreas Klöden has declared he only wants to ride in the Time Trial World Championships 2006. Current Selection:

Italy

National coach Franco Ballerini selected the following riders:

Netherlands

National coach Egon van Kessel selected the following riders:

Russia

Spain

Switzerland

Selection released on September 14:

United States

Nations allowed six riders

Austria

The home nation was represented by:

Brazil

Colombia

Czech Republic

Poland

Portugal

Slovenia

Slovakia

South Africa

Ukraine

Nations allowed three riders

Argentina

Belarus

Bulgaria

Burkina Faso

Croatia

Denmark

Estonia

Great Britain

Ireland

Japan

Kazakhstan

Latvia

New Zealand

New Zealand chose not to send riders to the Road World Championships 2006, as their most important riders are injured and thus unavailable.

Norway

Venezuela

Nations allowed one rider

Canada

Finland

Hungary

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Sweden