The Men's Individual Road Race of the 2012 UCI Road World Championships cycling event took place on 23 September in the province of Limburg, Netherlands.

The race was won by Belgium's Philippe Gilbert, after he made a late attack on the final ascent of the Cauberg climb and advanced clear of the rest of the field to win his first world title and the first by a Belgian since Tom Boonen won in Madrid in 2005.

[2][3] He finished four seconds clear of Norway's Edvald Boasson Hagen, who claimed the silver medal,[4] while the bronze medal went to Spain's Alejandro Valverde, who finished a second further behind.

[5] When the announcement was made of the course, Gilbert was the instant favourite and rode all year with this pressure.

[6] Of the race's 207 entrants, 122 riders completed the full distance of 269 km (167.1 mi).