{"id":118464,"date":"2026-01-01T19:34:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-01T19:34:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/all-news\/uci-2025-kigali-rwandas-cycling-history-written"},"modified":"2026-01-01T19:46:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-01T19:46:25","slug":"uci-2025-kigali-rwandas-cycling-history-written","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/rwanda\/sport\/uci-2025-kigali-rwandas-cycling-history-written","title":{"rendered":"UCI 2025 Kigali: Rwanda’s Cycling History Written"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Rwanda. <\/strong><\/span>Kigali became the centre of the cycling world in 2025, welcoming the globe\u2019s finest riders for the 98th edition of the UCI Road World Championships.<\/p>\n

The event crowned a vision first publicly shared in 2018, when the leadership of the cycling federation set out to place the country among the world\u2019s elite cycling nations.<\/p>\n

From September 21 to 28, cyclists from 110 countries were in the land of a thousand hills to battle for the iconic rainbow jersey across junior, under-23, and elite categories for both men and women.<\/p>\n

Though Africa ultimately missed out on a podium finish, riders from the continent delivered courageous and inspiring performances, signalling steady progress on cycling\u2019s biggest stage.<\/p>\n

As the year draws to a close, Times Sport revisits UCI Kigali 2025, reflecting on the defining moments, unforgettable scenes, and lasting highlights from a championship that reshaped Rwanda\u2019s place on the global cycling map.<\/p>\n

Big names that attended<\/b><\/p>\n

Among the 1,394 riders who competed, the championship featured some of the biggest stars in world cycling, including Slovenia\u2019s Tadej Pogac\u030car, who arrived in Kigali at the peak of his career.<\/p>\n

By the time of the championships, Pogac\u030car had already claimed four Tour de France titles (2020, 2021, 2024, and 2025), a Giro d\u2019Italia victory in 2024, and nine one-day Monument wins, including the Tour of Flanders and Lie\u0300ge\u2013Bastogne\u2013Lie\u0300ge.<\/p>\n

President Paul Kagame awards the 2025 World champion Tadej Pogac\u030car who also praised the Kigali course and Rwanda\u2019s hospitality after defending his road race title. Photo by Village Urugwiro<\/p>\n

Pogac\u030car competed in both the men\u2019s elite individual time trial (ITT) and the road race, disciplines in which he has built an extraordinary reputation. The championships also featured one of cycling\u2019s greatest ITT specialists, Belgium\u2019s Remco Evenepoel, who stood among the event\u2019s biggest figures.<\/p>\n

Africa was strongly represented, with 38 participating countries, led by Eritrean star Biniam Girmay, who holds the distinction of being the first African rider to win a silver medal at the UCI Road World Championships, achieved in the men\u2019s under-23 road race.<\/p>\n

On the women\u2019s side, Africa had stars including Kimberley Le Court Pienaar, the 29-year-old Mauritian who made history earlier this year as Africa\u2019s first monument winner after triumphing at Lie\u0300ge\u2013Bastogne\u2013Lie\u0300ge.<\/p>\n

Beyond the riders, the event attracted high-profile guests, including President Paul Kagame, UCI President David Lappartient, and Prince Albert II of Monaco.<\/p>\n

Global audience tuned into Kigali<\/b><\/p>\n

It would not be an exaggeration to say that the cycling world\u2019s attention was fixed on Rwanda throughout the championships. According to UCI reports, the event was broadcast in 124 countries across 22 international television networks, with Rwanda Television (RTV) serving as the host broadcaster.<\/p>\n

Major broadcasters included the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), BBC (United Kingdom), France TV, ZDF (Germany), RAI (Italy), and VRT\/RTBF (Belgium), while FloBikes covered the event in the United States and Canada. In Africa, SuperSport served as the pan-African broadcaster, alongside RBA as the local partner. The UCI also streamed all events live on its YouTube channel, which has over 690,000 subscribers.<\/p>\n

The platforms helped the championships surpass expectations, with over 330 million viewers worldwide, making Kigali 2025 the most-watched edition in the event\u2019s history, overtaking the 329 million audience recorded at Yorkshire 2019 in England.<\/p>\n

Uniqueness of the Rwandan circuit<\/b><\/p>\n

The Kigali circuit was billed as the toughest course ever staged at a UCI Road World Championships. On the final day, elite men riders tackled 267.5 kilometres with a staggering 5,475 metres of elevation gain, all at an altitude of approximately 1,850 metres above sea level.<\/p>\n

Africa was strongly represented, with 38 participating countries.<\/p>\n

The challenge was further intensified by the Mur de Kigali, a cobblestone climb that became one of the championship\u2019s defining landmarks.<\/p>\n

Another historic milestone was recorded as under-23 women competed in their own road race for the first time, separate from the elite women\u2019s event. Their race covered 119.3 kilometres with 2,435 metres of climbing, navigating short, sharp ascents and rolling terrain that relentlessly tested endurance.<\/p>\n

France\u2019s Ce\u0301lia Gery was the winner of the women\u2019s Under-23 rainbow jersey after clocking 3 hours, 24 minutes, and 26 seconds. Slovakian Viktoria Chladonova and Spain\u2019s Paula Blasi Cairol finished behind her to claim silver and bronze, respectively.<\/p>\n

Sections and moments that stood out<\/b><\/p>\n

One of the championship\u2019s most memorable storylines was the rivalry between Pogac\u030car and Evenepoel, which began in the ITT. Evenepoel once again proved his dominance in the discipline, completing the 40.6-kilometre course in 49 minutes and 6 seconds to claim his third consecutive ITT world title, following victories in Glasgow (2023) and Zurich (2024).<\/p>\n

He finished two minutes and 37 seconds ahead of Pogac\u030car, who struggled on the demanding Kigali route and finished fourth after being overtaken near the Women\u2019s Foundation climb in Kimihurura.<\/p>\n

However, Pogac\u030car turned the tables in the elite men\u2019s road race. On the final day, he attacked on Mont Kigali with more than 100 kilometres remaining, eventually dropping Mexico\u2019s Isaac Del Toro before riding the final 66 kilometres solo. He completed the brutal course in 6 hours, 21 minutes, and 20 seconds, reclaiming the rainbow jersey as Evenepoel finished one minute and 26 seconds behind.<\/p>\n

From September 21 to 28, cyclists from 110 countries were in the land of a thousand hills to battle for the iconic rainbow jersey across junior, under-23, and elite categories for both men and women.<\/p>\n

For Rwanda, one of the most inspiring moments came when Moise Ntirenganya defied expectations by completing the men\u2019s junior road race, carrying the nation\u2019s hopes in a race won by Britain\u2019s Harry Hudson. The Kimihurura cobblestone section, tackled shortly before the finish at KCC, also emerged as one of the toughest challenges for ITT riders across all categories.<\/p>\n

Off the road, David Lappartient was re-elected as UCI President, securing another four-year term until 2029 and marking continuity in leadership since first assuming office in 2017.<\/p>\n

What global figures said about Kigali 2025<\/b><\/p>\n

World champion Tadej Pogac\u030car praised the Kigali course and Rwanda\u2019s hospitality after defending his road race title.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really feel it; it\u2019s the nation of a thousand hills. From the moment I arrived here until today when I\u2019m leaving, I will remember Rwanda in a really positive way. I had one of the best training experiences here with my girlfriend and my team, which made the race even more special,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Legendary Burundian musician Khadja Nin, described the championships as exceptional. \u201cWhat is happening here is beyond expectations. This is definitely the best World Cycling Championship ever. Congratulations to everyone who organised it. As Africans, we are all very proud,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

UCI President David Lappartient also highlighted Africa\u2019s future role in global cycling. \u201cAfrica is not a finish line; it\u2019s a starting point. This is part of our global strategy. The way Rwanda organised this event was a success, and many federations were very impressed,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n

President Paul Kagame, in a message posted on X, lauded the successful hosting of the championships, stating that Rwanda was proud to welcome the world and celebrate the resilience and achievements of all riders who competed across Kigali.<\/p>\n\r\n