Rwanda Rides Into History With The 2025 UCI Road World Championships

KIGALI, RWANDA – SEPTEMBER 28: Tadej Pogacar and Team Slovenia in the breakaway competes during the 98th UCI Cycling World Championships Kigali 2025, Men Elite Road Race a 267.5km race from Kigali to Kigali on September 28, 2025 in Kigali, Rwanda. (Photo by Zac Williams – Pool/Getty Images)

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For the first time in history, the UCI Road World Championships unfolded on African soil, placing Rwanda at the centre of the cycling world. From September 20 to 28, the streets of Kigali and surrounding hills became the ultimate proving ground for the planet’s best cyclists, with high-altitude climbs, steep cobbled roads, and tropical heat shaping every pedal stroke. The 2025 edition of the championships was more than just a race; it was a showcase of Africa’s potential, terrain, and emerging cycling culture.

A Brutal Course, A Decisive Race

The elite men’s road race brought the curtain down on the championships on Sunday, September 28. Covering 267.5 km with over 5,475 meters of elevation gain, the course demanded everything from the riders: endurance, tactical nous, and climbing strength. The Mur du Kigali climb, already famous in cycling circles, became the race’s key battleground. Reigning champion Tadej Pogačar was once again at the heart of the action, but it was Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, fresh from his dominant time trial performance earlier in the week, who confirmed his status as the man to beat.

The women’s road race, held the day before, crowned a surprise champion in Canada’s Magdeleine Vallieres, who broke away on the Côte de Kimihurura to claim the rainbow jersey. Both races underlined how Rwanda’s unique terrain shaped strategy, splitting the peloton on the steep gradients and forcing the strongest riders to emerge.

African Riders on Home Ground

While the podiums were dominated by traditional cycling nations, African riders seized the opportunity to race in front of home fans. Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay, already one of Africa’s most successful professional cyclists, attacked repeatedly but faded late on the punishing climbs. His compatriot Nahom Zeray, a rising star, continued to show the promise that made him a Tour du Rwanda stage winner earlier this year.

In the junior and under-23 races, Ethiopia’s Tsige Kahsay Kiros impressed with a top-10 finish in the junior women’s event, showcasing the depth of African talent on the horizon. Rwanda’s own riders, including Jazilla Mwamikazi, carried the hopes of the host nation, even if results did not translate into medals. Their presence, however, marked a turning point for African cycling: participation, visibility, and belief that the continent belongs at this level.

Rwanda’s Big Bet on Sports Pays Off

When Rwanda was confirmed as host in 2021, winning the bid ahead of Morocco, it was seen as both a bold and symbolic choice. Kigali had been investing heavily in infrastructure, positioning itself as a hub for international events. The past four years have seen the city transform: roads were upgraded, hospitality expanded, and event logistics fine-tuned to meet world-class standards. Hosting the UCI Worlds became the ultimate payoff for this strategy.

The economic impact is expected to be significant. A useful comparison comes from the 2022 World Championships in Wollongong, Australia, which generated more than €35.6 million in economic activity for the host region and the equivalent of 930 full-time jobs over a year. Rwanda may not reach those exact numbers, but early indicators point to substantial boosts in tourism, hospitality, and job creation. Hotels in Kigali were at near-full capacity, local businesses benefited from the influx of visitors, and the country positioned itself as a credible destination for major international events.

A Global Broadcast Moment

The championships were not only a local triumph but also a global showcase. According to the UCI, live and near-live coverage was available on all continents, ensuring that fans in every major cycling market followed the competition. Millions watched Rwanda’s landscapes flash across their screens: the undulating hills, the buzzing crowds in Kigali, and the drama of the Mur du Kigali climb. For Rwanda, this kind of global broadcast was invaluable advertising, an opportunity to brand itself as both a sporting and tourist destination.

The Broader Significance of African Cycling

The Rwanda championships highlighted both the progress and the challenges of African cycling. Riders like Girmay and Kiros represent a new generation with the potential to challenge the sport’s hierarchy. However, they continue to operate at a disadvantage compared to their European counterparts, who enjoy deeper resources, larger teams, and extensive support structures.

Yet the symbolic importance of Africa hosting cannot be overstated. For young African cyclists, seeing their home terrain as the stage for the world’s biggest cycling event provides inspiration. For sponsors and federations, it underscores the potential return on investment in African cycling, while for governments, it is a reminder that sports can drive both international visibility and local development.

Beyond the Finish Line

As the rainbow jerseys return to Europe and the global spotlight shifts elsewhere, the legacy of Rwanda 2025 will endure. The championships proved that Africa’s terrain can challenge the world’s best, that its fans can generate an atmosphere to rival Flanders or Tuscany, and that its cities can deliver a complex event with precision and flair.

The true impact will be measured in what comes next: increased tourism, continued investment in cycling, and a new generation of African athletes motivated to follow in the tyre tracks of the world’s elite. The East African nation took a bold gamble by betting on sports, and the 2025 UCI World Championships showed it was a gamble worth taking. Rwanda not only hosted the world—it proved it belongs on the global sporting map.