"Is there no one who sees what is going to happen there?" - Aike Visbeek furious at Rwanda World Championships route
Cycling
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda were
expected to be a landmark moment for cycling in Africa, but much of the
discussion so far has been dominated by negativity. Concerns over the event’s route
and participation have been raised, and Aike Visbeek is among those voicing
strong criticism.
Speaking to De Rode Lantaarn, Visbeek expressed
disappointment with the course, echoing concerns raised by Belgian national
coach Serge Pauwels, who recently told Sporza that he understands why 2023
world champion Mathieu van der Poel has chosen not to travel to Rwanda.
Visbeek did not hold back in his assessment, "Politically,
but also in terms of the course. The course ensures that you get a very
stripped-down field of participants. It already costs a lot of money to go
there, and then the course is also a shame. We have seen it coming for three
years. Especially when the news came in about the course."
He believes the World Championships in Rwanda had the
potential to be spectacular but argues that the route design limits the
competition.
"You can organise a fantastic World Championship in Rwanda. The
same story for Montréal in 2026: remove a climb there and you get a great race
where forty riders can become world champions. A Tadej Pogacar and Van der Poel, but
maybe even Philipsen."
According to Visbeek, the route should have been more open
and balanced, allowing different types of riders to compete:
"They should have done that in Rwanda too," he
stated. "That a Pogacar would be in front, but then with a Van der Poel
there. And a Biniam Girmay in super form. That would have been a dream
scenario, but yes, I don't know what forces are at play."
The mention of Biniam Girmay is particularly relevant. In 2024,
the Eritrean rider made history by becoming the first African to win a jersey
at the Tour de France, claiming the green jersey as the race’s best sprinter.
However, Visbeek isn’t even sure if Girmay will start in Rwanda.
"I do not know whether he will start," he
admitted. "We are not going to make that decision for him, because he will
have to do that himself. It is just a shame, because it could have made the
circle complete."
Ultimately, Visbeek fears that the Rwanda World
Championships could suffer from a lack of competition, leaving a small group of
riders fighting for victory too early.
"I do think: is there no one who sees what is going to
happen there? Maybe I will be proven wrong, but it could very well be that you
still have thirty men in the race for the last fifty kilometres. Like at the
World Championships in Colombia in 1995."
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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