The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) has officially unveiled the race routes for the 2025 UCI Road World Championship which will take place in Rwanda from September 21-28, 2025.
The routes were announced a year before Rwanda hosts the prestigious cycling event—the first of its kind on the African continent.
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David Lappartient, president of the UCI, emphasized the importance of Kigali’s distinctive terrain in shaping the competition.
"Bringing the UCI Road World Championships to the African continent has been my vision for several years. Just one year from now, that vision will become a reality. I am delighted that this historic event will take place in Rwanda, already known for the magnificent Tour du Rwanda,” Lappartient said during the launch of Kigali 2025 race on the sidelines of the 2024 Road World championship which is underway in Zurich, Switzerland.
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Lappartient is convinced that, "Kigali and the whole country have a rich cycling culture that will now be shared with the world. I cannot wait to welcome the cycling family to what will be a milestone for the development and globalization of our sport.”
A Milestone for Africa
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships are not just significant for Rwanda, but for the entire African continent. This event will showcase Africa’s readiness to host major international sporting events and inspire the growth of cycling across the region. The inclusion of a separate Women Under 23 race for the first time reflects a commitment to gender equality in the sport, a value Rwanda proudly champions.
During the routes unveiling, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Richard Nyirishema said, "Rwanda is proud be the first African host of this iconic sporting event. Sport has played a vital role in Rwanda’s development over the past thirty years, driving our economic development as well as building sporting eco-systems in the country and we have no doubt that this event will create a lasting legacy.”
"Rwandans love cycling and you can already feel the excitement building as we get closer to welcoming the world’s best riders to ride new heights in our Land of a Thousand Hills,” Nyirishema added.
The race routes feature a mix of time trials and road races, taking advantage of Kigali’s hilly landscape. The men elite road race, scheduled for September 28, will be the highlight of the event, covering a total distance of 267.5 kilometers with an elevation gain of 5,475 meters.
The course will combine nine laps of the local circuit (15.1 km) with one lap of the more challenging extension circuit (42.5 km), making it a true test of endurance.
A standout feature of the race will be the Cote Kimihurura, a steep cobblestone climb that will challenge riders across multiple laps of the local circuit.
The meticulously designed course also includes iconic climbs like Mur Kigali and Mont Kigali, both expected to be pivotal in determining the outcomes of several races.
The full week of competition will include time trials, road races, and a mixed team relay, with cyclists from across the world preparing to navigate Kigali’s demanding terrain.
Itinerary
Time Trials:
Sunday, September 21: Women Elite ITT: 31.2 km – 460m elevation
Men Elite ITT: 40.6 km – 680m elevation
Monday, September 22:
Women Under 23 ITT: 22.6 km – 350m elevation
Men Under 23 ITT: 31.2 km – 460m elevation
Tuesday, September 23:
Women Junior ITT: 18.3 km – 225m elevation
Men Junior ITT: 22.6 km – 350m elevation
Wednesday, September 24: Team Time Trial Mixed Relay: 42.4 km – 740m elevation
Road Races:
Thursday, September 25:
Women Under 23 Road Race: 119.3 km – 2,435m elevation
Friday, September 26:
Men Junior Road Race: 119.3 km – 2,435m elevation
Men Under 23 Road Race: 164.6 km – 3,350m elevation
Saturday, September 27:
Women Junior Road Race: 74 km – 1,520m elevation
Women Elite Road Race: 164.6 km – 3,350m elevation
Sunday, September 28:
Men Elite Road Race: 267.5 km – 5,475m elevation