Rwanda will be the first African country to host the Road World Championships. The 2025 edition of the race will feature 5,000 cyclists and around 20,000 delegates from September 21 to 28, 2025. The championship will be one of the hardest editions ever with 5,475 metres of climbing.
Reportedly, the global community is gearing up for a truly historic event i.e. the 2025 UCI Road World Championships. The sport event will take place in Kigali, Rwanda. It will mark the prestigious championships that are held on the African continent and offers a world-class platform for elite cyclists to compete on the challenging roads of the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’.
The event is organised in collaboration with the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which is a sport’s global governing body. The event promises to deliver spectacular competitions with multiple climbs and high altitudes that the Kigali’s terrain will push competitors to new limits.
Moreover, the event is already building in Rwanda and among competitors who will have a chance to ride new heights and register their place in cycling history.
Cycling is more than just a sport for Rwanda people. It is an essential activity and part of everyday life. In Rwanda, bicycles serve as a primary mode of transport, which helps people to commute and transport goods across the hilly terrain.
Visitors are often struck by the endurance and ingenuity of Rwandans who navigate the country’s roads carrying heavy loads on their bikes. Competitive cycling is also on the rise, with events such as the annual Tour du Rwanda growing in popularity.
The race draws international competitors and excites local fans who line the streets to support their favorite riders. Cycling has become a beloved weekend activity for many Rwandans, who regularly travel to the roads with friends and family to enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the country.
2025 UCI Road World Championships are not just significant for Rwanda, but for the entire African continent. This event will showcase Africa’s readiness to host major international sporting events and inspire the growth of cycling across the region.
It includes a separate Women Under 23-race for the first time reflects a commitment to gender equality in the sport, a value Rwanda proudly champions.
Minister of Sports of Rwanda – Richard Nyirishema said, “Rwanda is proud be the first African host of this iconic sporting event. Sport has played a vital role in Rwanda’s development over the past thirty years, driving our economic development as well as building sporting eco-systems in the country and we have no doubt that this event will create a lasting legacy. Rwanda people love cycling and you can already feel the excitement building as we get closer to welcoming the world’s best riders to ride new heights in our Land of a Thousand Hills.”
Furthermore, UCI President – David Lappartient said, “Bringing the UCI Road World Championships to the African continent has been my vision for several years. Just one year from now, that vision will become a reality. I am delighted that this historic event will take place in Rwanda, already known for the magnificent Tour du Rwanda. Kigali and the whole of the country have a rich cycling culture that will now be shared with the world. I cannot wait to welcome the cycling family to what will be a milestone for the development and globalization of our sport.”