Kigali on two wheels: how Rwanda stole the global cycling spotlight

By JC Business Consult | 250currencies | 26 Sep 2025

KIGALI, Rwanda

Under the crisp highland skies, the hills around Rwanda are humming with the whirr of wheels and the cheers of fans. It’s here, in September 2025, that the world’s best cyclists converge for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships — the first time the event has ever been held on African soil.

RWANDA: A country that races — and mesmerizes

Rwanda is many things: verdant hills, an often mist-shrouded skyline, winding roads that climb and descend with surprising drama. For visiting riders and fans alike, it feels like the country was made for cycling. The capital, Kigali, sits at altitude (around 1,500 m above sea level), lending extra sting to each climb.

From the terraces of rolling farmland to sharp, narrow roads brushing small towns and villages, the scenery never stops giving. As the peloton snakes through valleys, spectators line the edges with flags, drums, and unbridled enthusiasm. The fusion of natural beauty and sporting drama is vivid at every turn.

🏁 The race of a lifetime — brutal, beautiful, defining

This edition of the Worlds is already being hailed as one of the toughest ever. The men’s elite road race alone includes 267.5 km and 5,475 m of climbing — the most elevation in a Worlds men’s race in decades.

The women’s elite route is no less punishing, with 3,350 m of ascent.

Courses are built on multiple laps of a challenging circuit through Kigali, with circuits featuring brutal climbs and steep cobbled sections — one iconic ascent is the Côte de Kimihurura — which becomes a battlefield late in the races.

Riders have to battle altitude, successive climbs, and mental fatigue. One media outlet even described the men’s course as “less typical road race, and more Giro d’Italia epic mountain day.

🥇 Moments that will live forever

Early in the championships, the under-23 men’s time trial was dominated by Jakob Söderqvist (Sweden), who delivered a commanding performance over the 31.2 km course. Cyclingnews+1

In the elite men’s time trial, Belgian powerhouse Remco Evenepoel claimed his third straight world title, shutting down Tadej Pogačar and the rest of the field over 40.6 km. Wikipedia+2Reuters+2 Pogačar, recovering from a tough TT, turned his attention entirely to the road race, acknowledging the epic climbs ahead. Reuters

On the women’s side, Swiss rider Marlen Reusser took the elite women’s time trial title with a dominant ride, finishing 51 seconds ahead of second place. Cycling Weekly In the under-23 women’s road race, Célia Gery (France) sprinted to history, capturing the rainbow jersey in the first-ever standalone U23 women’s event at the Worlds. Cyclingnews+1

In the junior men’s road race, Harry Hudson (Great Britain) launched a solo move from 36 km out, holding off the chasers to take a spectacular win. Cyclingnews

🎤 From the sidelines: voices & visions

Local fans talk of this week as a national triumph. For many Rwandans, cycling is more than a sport — it’s a source of pride and a way to showcase the country’s progress and unity. Flags wave, children shout, drums pound — the energy is electric.

International riders speak of the challenge and beauty in equal measure.

Tadej Pogačar, despite a sluggish TT, still eyes the rainbow jersey for the road race, calling this course “one of the most exhausting of my career.” Reuters+2Cyclingnews+2
Evenepoel, fresh off his time trial win, says the climbs demand total consistency: slip once and the race is over.
Organizers introduced GPS tracking for all races this year, boosting safety and real-time monitoring across the circuit. Cyclingnews

🌍 Legacy beyond the finish line

This isn’t just a cycling event — it’s a statement. Rwanda is putting itself on the world stage, showing that Africa can host at the very highest levels. The Guardian+3AP News+3UCI Kigali 2025+3

The World Championships could inspire a new generation of African riders — especially from Rwanda — to don the national colors on global podiums. The infrastructure improvements, roads, and global media attention may leave lasting benefits long after the medals are awarded.

This video captures top moments from the men’s elite time trial in Kigali.