Rwanda to host cycling world championship, first time in Africa

Cycling in Rwanda. Photo New Times of Rwanda

Cycling in Rwanda. Photo New Times of Rwanda

Cycling’s road race world championships will take place in Rwanda in 2025, the first time in Africa.

The sport’s governing body, the UCI, rubber-stamped Rwanda’s candidacy on Friday.

“The UCI Road World Championship is a big cycling tournament that attracts 5,000 cyclists and over 20,000 delegates”, reported New Times of Rwanda.

Rwanda enjoys a healthy cycling culture and runs an annual eight-day stage race, the Tour of Rwanda around the hilly capital of Kigali, and has been selected ahead of Morocco.

“We have 54 confederations on the African continent and it was time we thanked them for their contribution to cycling,” UCI president David Lappartient said at cycling’s annual congress.

Lappartient said when taking the post in 2017 he wanted to see Africa given a chance to host the annual event.

Related News

“Rwanda ticks all the boxes, organisational, financial and of course on a sporting level,” he said.

“We all know the passion the fans will bring in Kigali.”

“There will be a million fans out for the event, it will be amazing and bikes are a major development tool in the region.”

This year’s world championship is currently ongoing in Flanders.

Australia hosts the event in 2022, with Scotland in 2023 and Switzerland in 2024.

Load more