Cycling boss Brian Cookson expects the world road cycling championships will return to Australia sooner rather than later.
It emerged on Friday that the SA Government has had initial talks with Cookson, the UCI president, about bidding for the 2020 road worlds.
Cookson is in Adelaide for the Tour Down Under.
The Geelong worlds in 2010 were the first time Australia hosted the annual event and it was an undoubted success.
"I'm sure the road worlds will come back to Australia sooner rather than later and I certainly hope so," Cookson told AAP.
The UCI will decide on the 2020 road worlds venue this September.
Cookson said given the tight time frame, 2021 might be a more realistic option for an Adelaide bid.
"We're very keen to bring the road world championships back to Australia at some point," he said.
"We've happy to talk with any interested host city or region or state.
"If the people are interested here in Adelaide, that's good.
"If others are interested, that's also good."
Cookson said Adelaide clearly had shown an ability to host a major cycling event, given the Tour Down Under's long-running success.
"I wouldn't want to discourage anybody else, but I do think here they've done a great job with the Tour Down Under," he said.
"Clearly they have the expertise here to put on great events.
"I'm sure they could do a good job with our road world championships, but ... it's early days yet."
Tour Down Under race director Mike Turtur applauded the initial talks, saying the idea had clear merit.
"Of course it would (work) - we have all the appropriate circuits to choose from," he said.
"The terrain and the access to the hills from the city would work really well."
