Phil Liggett
Africa-Press – Rwanda. Having spent more than five decades following the great races of the world—from the climbs of the Alps to the chaos of the Champs-Élysées—I’ve seen how the bicycle can bring out the best in people. I’ve witnessed its power to elevate, to connect, and sometimes, to heal.
This August, I join a new kind of ride. One that begins not in Europe, but in the heart of Africa. From August 17, I will cycle across Rwanda with twenty riders from around the world, as part of Ride For Unity’s “Ride to Reconnection”—an eight-day journey that brings together world champions, adventurers, changemakers, and community leaders. And while I’ve seen many remarkable tours in my life, this one holds a different kind of meaning.
Because Rwanda is not just another stop on the cycling calendar. It is a symbol of what sport, and society, can become when unity is not an ideal, but a daily act.
When people hear “Rwanda,” many still think of the events of 1994. But what I encounter on this ride is a nation that has chosen something extraordinary: reconciliation over revenge, dignity over division. Rwanda has refused to be defined by its past. Instead, it is showing the world what it means to rebuild—not just infrastructure, but trust.
We will ride to memorials and schools, coffee farms and conservation projects. We will meet youth leaders, survivors, and social entrepreneurs. Through them, I will see a society moving forward—not perfectly, not without challenge—but with clarity of purpose.
In my many years calling races, I’ve often described cycling as an individual pursuit. But the truth is, every great ride is a shared experience.
In a peloton, you learn to move together, to protect one another, to carry each other through headwinds. Trust is not optional; it’s how you stay upright.
Ride For Unity builds on that principle. It is not about who finishes first. It is about who you ride alongside—and what you learn when you do. It’s a reminder that connection doesn’t happen in comfort; it’s forged through effort and mutual respect.
The ride is the message
This tour isn’t just a route—it’s a statement. We will cycle through towns and villages, but also through stories of survival and resilience. We will plant trees, harvest crops, and play games with children. We will take part in something bigger than ourselves.
And in doing so, I hope we send a clear message. That the world doesn’t need more division—it needs more shared journeys. That the bicycle, humble as it may be, can carry powerful meaning. And that sport, when rooted in empathy and inclusion, can help repair what once seemed broken.
As Rwanda prepares to host the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, global attention will soon turn to its roads, its riders, and its story. I believe this country is ready—not just to host a world-class sporting event, but to remind the world what sport can stand for.
I look forward to riding its hills and valleys, but more than that, I look forward to learning from its people. I ride to listen. I ride to witness. I ride because I believe that unity is not a slogan—it’s a responsibility.
And if you want to understand what unity looks like on two wheels, I invite you to watch this ride unfold. Better yet, come and be part of it.
Source: The New Times
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