"I can’t think of any other name than Tadej Pogacar" – Tom Dumoulin in no doubt over Rainbow Jersey winner after course recon in Rwanda

Tom Dumoulin has finished his recon in Kigali, Rwanda with one clear conclusion: the 2025 World Championships road race is made for Tadej Pogacar. After riding the local circuit and key climbs including the fearsome Muur van Kigali, the 2017 time trial world champion believes the Slovenian is the overwhelming favourite to pull on another Rainbow Jersey.

“The last three or four kilometres are practically all uphill,” Dumoulin told Wielerflits after his reconnaissance of the upcoming Rainbow Jersey battlefield. “This is really one for the climbers. The best rider will win here, guaranteed. Honestly, I can’t think of any other name than Tadej Pogacar.”

Dumoulin, who finished fourth at the 2018 Worlds, described the Rwandan course as one of the most unrelenting he has ever seen. “It’s brutal – climb after climb after climb. There’s barely a moment to catch your breath. The descents are straight and fast, so you’re quickly down and straight into the next climb.”

The men’s road race will tackle a 20-kilometre circuit 15 times, taking in a succession of punishing ramps on near-perfect tarmac – save for the rough cobbles of the Côte de Kimihurura (1.3 km at 6.3%), which comes just before the finish. “That climb will completely break things apart,” Dumoulin said. “And the final kilometre to the line drags uphill as well, so there’s nowhere to hide.”

Midway through the race, the peloton will leave the city loop to take on Mount Kigali (5.9 km at 6.9%) and the legendary Muur de Kigali (0.4 km at 11%). Dumoulin previewed the latter alongside Bram Tankink and Simon Geschke, with Tankink dramatically snapping his chain on the steep cobbles.

“That one is really hard,” Dumoulin reflected. “It’s a good thing they’re only doing it once. Although it would have been even better deeper in the finale. Still, it’s a beautiful race-decider.”

With the combination of altitude, repeated climbs and decisive cobbles, Dumoulin believes the Rwandan parcours has been designed to expose any weakness. “The best rider will win,” he insisted – and in his view there is no debate about who that rider is.

Pogacar, the reigning world road race champion, four-time Tour de France winner and Olympic bronze medallist, has been in imperious form all season. For Dumoulin, the Rwandan course offers the perfect stage for the Slovenian to add a second Rainbow Jersey to his palmarès.