Mark Cavendish will go up against defending road race champion Peter Sagan at the 2016 Road World Championships in Doha, which begin on Sunday.

The event has been moved from its traditional date in September to mid-October in a bid to enable riders to compete in cooler temperatures.

However, the courses should not be too demanding, with rides mostly taking place on the flat, technical surfaces of Pearl Island, just off the coast of Doha.

Such conditions are favourable for Cavendish, a silver medallist on the track at Rio 2016, who took road race gold in similar circumstances in Copenhagen five years ago.

He will face competition from Peter Sagan, an 11-time Grand Tour stage winner who also claimed the European title in France this year.

Andre Greipel of Germany will also be in the hunt for honours, while Norway's Alexander Kristoff will be among the contenders after narrowly missing out on the Tour of Qatar crown to Cavendish last February.

In the men's time trial, reigning champion Vasil Kiryienka will hope to improve upon a disappointing Olympic Games.

The Belarusian will no doubt have competition for gold from three-time winner Tony Martin, as well as Tom Dumoulin and Rohan Dennis.

Anna van der Breggen is the stand-out contender in both of the women's events.

The Dutchwoman was a double silver medallist in last year's edition and claimed road race gold and bronze in the time trial at Rio 2016.

Linda Villumsen will not return to defend the gold she won in the time 2015 time trial making Van der Breggen favourite, but there will be greater competition in the road race.

Lizzie Deignan (nee Armitstead) will be aiming to defend her title, while Chloe Hosking, who has won a pair of majors this year, and two-time champion Giorgia Bronzini are expected to provide stiff competition.