“Our hearts were saying yes, but our bodies saying no” – Larry Warbasse on the brutal reality of Rwanda World Championships

The UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, will be remembered for many reasons, mainly for Tadej Pogacar’s dominant victory and for being the first World Championships on African soil.

It will also be unforgettable for Larry Warbasse, the 35-year-old former US national champion and veteran of more than a decade in the professional peloton. Although he did not finish the race, Warbasse has now shared his reflections on what he described as one of the most unique and memorable weeks of his career.

“There was a lot of hype and build-up to this year’s UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda, the first time it would be held in Africa,” Warbasse recalled in Cyclingnews. “From the moment they announced it a few years ago, there was a mix of excitement and trepidation for the event.”

Arriving a few days before the race, Warbasse tried to adjust to the challenging conditions. “With Kigali situated at 1500m above sea level, we were pretty sure the altitude would have some effect,” he explained, “but the one thing we weren’t prepared for, however, was the air quality, which was somewhat deteriorated compared to what most of us are accustomed to.”

The American also remembered the vibrant atmosphere around the race. “Sometimes you would be riding and you would just hear the cheers of kids, and they would be hiding in the woods above the road. Unfortunately, we didn’t have much on us to give them, as we all seemed to give one of our bottles away quite early in the ride, and then had to refill our second more than once because we no longer had enough fluids.”

Once racing began, it quickly became clear how demanding the circuit would be. “Seeing the course the days before, we knew it would be an absurdly hard race,” he said. “The cobbles on the circuit were no joke… with the number of times we were supposed to go up them, we were sure it would be carnage.”

Warbasse’s role was to support leaders Quinn Simmons and Kevin Vermaerke, but the intensity took its toll. “From the gun, the race was hard. Everyone I spoke to seemed to be dying.” He admitted that “as predicted, Tadej and the favorites made a huge acceleration over the top, disappearing into the distance. That was the last time I saw the front of the race.”

Reflecting on the team’s effort, Warbasse added: “I’m proud of the way we executed the plan and the way we committed, and even though there wasn’t a result in the end, we were where we needed to be at every important moment. But in the reverse of Christina Aguilera, our hearts were saying yes, but our bodies saying no.”

The trip did not end at the finish line however. “To my surprise, while having a post-race team dinner, we received a message from the staff wondering if anyone wanted to go on a safari the day after,” Warbasse said. “Sure enough the next morning we had a 5 am departure from the hotel to head to Akagera National Park… when we finally made it to the park, we saw all sorts of wild life, from rhinos to zebras, giraffes to elephants, it was quite the experience.”

The experience brought Warbasse back to the roots of why he rides. “Part of the reason I enjoyed riding my bike so much as a child was the freedom it gave me. For me, the bike was an adventure – it opened the door to so many places I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to see.”

Summing up his week, he concluded: “Getting to race there was an experience I will not be quick to forget… even if I leave the country without a number on the result sheet next to my name, I don’t leave Kigali empty by any means: it was a rich experience and adventure with memories I will keep for life.”