ANALYSIS | Why are the 2025 world championships in Rwanda are so important?

The UCI Road World Championships have been staged across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East and Asia. Never before, however, has the rainbow jersey been contested on African soil. That changes this weekend, when Kigali hosts cycling’s most prestigious week of racing. So, that means that the event carries importance well beyond the podiums: it is both a landmark for the globalisation of the sport and a test case for how cycling manages politics, culture, and infrastructure in a complex host nation.

Let’s find out a bit more about the place the world’s best cyclists will call home for the next week.

For decades, elite road cycling has been anchored in Europe, with occasional forays into North America and Asia. Awarding the Worlds to Rwanda reflects the UCI’s stated goal of global expansion. President David Lappartient described the decision as a way to “bring cycling to new heights,” a phrase echoed in the official slogan, “Riding New Heights.” The motto captures both the literal geography of Rwanda, known as the “land of a thousand hills,” and the figurative sense of elevating the sport into fresh territory.

The choice of Rwanda is no accident. The Tour du Rwanda, now a fixture on the UCI Africa Tour, has grown into one of the continent’s most popular stage races, drawing large crowds and showcasing the country’s passion for cycling. Kigali’s location at over 1500 metres above sea level ensures distinctive racing conditions, as the race will get tougher as the air thins. For the UCI, this is a chance to connect with a new generation of African cyclists and audiences, embedding the sport more deeply in a region with clear potential.

Rwanda’s terrain ensures that the 2025 Worlds will be among the most difficult editions in recent memory, and it is why a certain Slovenian is the overwhelming favourite for glory. The men’s road race alone includes over 5,000 metres of climbing, while the time trials feature repeated ascents and technical descents at altitude. Riders will need to contend not just with their rivals but also with thinner air, punishing gradients and cobbled ramps.

The elite time trial route is emblematic of Kigali’s character. At 40.6 kilometres for the men and 31.2 for the women, the courses contain between 500 and 680 metres of climbing. The Côte de Nyanza, a 2.5-kilometre climb at nearly six percent, arrives just ten kilometres into the effort. Later, the Côte de Kimihurura offers a brutal finale: 1.3 kilometres at over six percent, paved with rough cobblestones, before the drag to the finish at the Kigali Convention Centre. Pacing, bike handling, and equipment choices will be as decisive as raw power.

Beyond the sporting challenge, Rwanda 2025 has cultural resonance. Cycling in Rwanda is already deeply embedded in everyday life, from rural transport to the professional peloton. In fact, cycling is the second biggest sport in the country, behind only football. The Tour du Rwanda attracts vast crowds, often lining mountain roads in numbers reminiscent of Europe’s grand tours. Hosting the World Championships builds on that foundation, and could see more growth in the sport.

The government and organisers frame the event as part of Rwanda’s broader transformation. Since the genocide of 1994, the country has invested heavily in rebuilding its infrastructure, developing tourism, and projecting an image of stability and progress. Sport, particularly cycling, has become a showcase of that recovery.

For young Rwandans, the Worlds will provide inspiration. The hope is that exposure to the world’s best riders will encourage greater youth participation, leaving a legacy of local development and a pathway for African talent to enter the global scene. For the tourism sector, the event represents another chapter in the “Visit Rwanda” campaign, already visible on European football shirts, designed to boost international awareness.

Despite the optimism, Rwanda 2025 is not free of controversy. Critics argue that awarding the event to Kigali risks “sportswashing,” allowing the Rwandan government to polish its international image while deflecting from internal and regional issues.

Human rights groups have pointed to Rwanda’s alleged involvement with the M23 rebel group in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo, where conflict has displaced thousands. These concerns spilled into the political sphere: the European Parliament even passed a resolution calling for the Championships to be cancelled or relocated. While the UCI dismissed the idea of a “plan B,” the episode revealed the unease surrounding the host nation. Given what we have just over the last three weeks at the Vuelta a Espana, the UCI will be desperate for a protest-less week.

Corruption scandals have also plagued the Rwandan Cycling Federation. Several officials resigned in late 2023 amid allegations of financial mismanagement, casting doubt on the capacity of the local body to manage a global event of this scale. Though international oversight has since stabilised preparations, questions linger about transparency and governance.

Security is another area of scrutiny. Rwanda borders an active conflict zone in eastern Congo, and while Kigali itself is considered safe, concerns remain about the broader regional picture. The UCI and local organisers have stressed that robust security measures are in place. Lappartient has been clear: “There is no plan B,” insisting that the Championships will go ahead in Rwanda regardless.

Logistical challenges also loom. Transporting riders, staff, and equipment to East Africa is more complex and expensive than staging Worlds in Europe. Some smaller national federations have reportedly scaled back their delegations because of cost.

Environmental and infrastructural concerns have surfaced as well. The cancellation of a decisive stage at the 2024 Tour du Rwanda meant parts of Mount Kigali’s climb went untested, fuelling doubts about whether every aspect of the Worlds has been rehearsed adequately.

Despite the controversies, it is important to understand why the 2025 Worlds remain significant, and the huge positives it could generation. For cycling, this is about global credibility, as if the sport aspires to be truly international, it cannot remain bound to traditional strongholds. Africa, with its youth demographics and growing enthusiasm, represents a frontier that must be engaged.

The Championships will provide African riders with a rare chance to compete on home soil at the highest level, a powerful incentive for development. It will also show whether cycling can learn anything from the past month in Spain to balance sporting integrity with political complexity. No World Championships can ever be entirely divorced from its host’s context, but Rwanda 2025 forces the sport to reckon with that reality more openly than most.

For the athletes, the controversies fade once the racing begins. The hills of Kigali will decide rainbow jerseys, and the cobbles of Kimihurura will crown champions. But the significance endures beyond the results. Rwanda 2025 will be remembered as either a successful expansion of cycling’s footprint or as a cautionary tale of ambition running ahead of practicality.