The race took place on Sunday 22 August 1948 in Valkenburg, the Netherlands.

[1] The race was won by Briek Schotte of Belgium.

The race was strongly influenced by rivalry between Fausto Coppi and Gino Bartali, among the favourite athletes participating.

The Italian Cycling Federation even suspended them from competitive activity for three months.

[citation needed] This UCI Road World Championships – Men's road race article is a stub.