Patrick Lefevere doesn't agree with criticism of Rwanda Worlds: "Anyone who has been to Kigali can only be impressed"

Patrick Lefevere has offered a robust defence of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships being staged in Rwanda, pushing back against critics who argue the African nation is an unsuitable host. Writing in his weekly Het Nieuwsblad column, the former Soudal - Quick-Step boss insisted the progress made in Kigali deserves recognition and that the controversy surrounding the event is misplaced.

“I know I’ll be stepping on some very sensitive toes, but I am one hundred per cent in favour of the World Championships in Rwanda,” Lefevere wrote. “There’s a lot that can be said about Paul Kagame, but anyone who has been to Kigali can only be impressed by how that city functions.”

The Belgian acknowledged the geopolitical tensions in the region, including Rwanda’s alleged military involvement in eastern Congo and EU sanctions imposed on the Rwandan army for supporting M23 rebels. Yet he was quick to highlight what he sees as hypocrisy in the criticism.

“The EU pays that very army millions to safeguard European corporate interests in Mozambique – TotalEnergies, to name one example. On top of that, the EU has struck a major resources deal with Rwanda. All of that goes unquestioned, but when there happens to be a bike race in the same country, suddenly it’s a scandal,” Lefevere argued.

Lefevere, now aged 70 and retired from the day to day running of the Soudal - Quick-Step team, placed his remarks in a broader context of Rwanda’s recovery since the 1994 genocide. “Rebuilding a completely divided and devastated country into what it is today can only be achieved by an authoritarian leader,” he wrote. “With our one hundred and ten Belgian ministers of who-knows-what, it would never have happened.”

While his comments are certain to provoke debate amongst the cycling world, they underline the complexities surrounding the Kigali Worlds, which will mark the first time the championships have ever been held on African soil. For Lefevere, however, the event represents more than just a global race – it’s a symbol of how cycling can intersect with broader political and societal narratives through sport.