Rwanda hires top European firms to organise 2025 UCI Road World Champs

Rwanda’s cycling governing body (FERWACY) has appointed French company Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O) and Belgian company Golazo to support the local organising committee in staging a successful 2025 UCI Road World Championships that will take place in Kigali from September 21-28, 2025. The three parties signed a partnership agreement on Tuesday January 9th, 2024 at the Ministry of Sports’ headquarters in Kigali. ALSO READ: Clock ticks for 2025 UCI Road World Championships Cycling is on the rise on the African continent, both in terms of elite riders and amateurs, with the sport becoming increasingly popular with the continent’s youth. And, for the first time in the 103-year history of the UCI Road World Championships, the 2025 contest will be held in Africa. ALSO READ: Cycling: Rwanda wins bid to host 2025 World Championships The championships will come to Kigali following a hosting agreement that was signed between the Government of Rwanda and Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in 2021 to stage this prestigious event in the East African country. After signing the agreement on Tuesday, FERWACY president Samson Ndayishimiye, said, “we are so excited and happy for this historical moment not only for our country but also for our continent and we are ready to work with A.S.O. & Golazo and deliver on this championship.” Reacting to the partnership, A.S.O CEO Yann Le Moenner highlighted that “it is a big step for cycling to organize the first ever world championships on the African continent, and it is truly an honor for A.S.O. to have been selected alongside Golazo to support the Ministry of Sports and the Cycling Federation in this ambitious project. Kigali is definitely the right place to host such a breakthrough event as the people have a true passion for cycling here, and the hilly city could offer one of the most challenging grounds for a cycling race. We are really excited to be able to bring our expertise to such a promising event”. For a period of eight days, Kigali 2025 UCI Road World Championships will feature men and women competing in both time trials and road races across six categories namely elite men, elite women, men under 23, women under 23, men junior and women junior. ALSO READ: Munyangaju promises memorable 2025 Road World Championships Around 20,000 international visitors will be expected in Kigali to enjoy this historic sporting event. On his part, Bob Verbeeck, Golazo Group CEO said, “we are honoured to help co-organise this memorable sporting moment for Africa.” “We have been active in East Africa for more than 10 years. In recent years, our operations in Kenya have gained momentum. This is another big step in developing our foothold in Africa. Golazo will open a second office in Kigali, Rwanda, in addition to its current office in Nairobi (Kenya)”. The two firms will be working hand in hand with the 2025 UCI Road World Championship Local Organising Committee chaired by Zephanie Niyonkuru who is the current Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Sports (MINISPORTS). About GOLAZO Golazo is an international sports and health company from Belgium.It is a long-standing organiser of the Baloise Belgium Tour, the Renewi Tour (UCI WorldTour in Belgium and the Netherlands) and a dozen one-day races, and many more cyclo-cross races, track events and recreational cycling events. It was co-organiser of the very successful 2021 Road World Championship in Flanders. In Kenya, Golazo runs one of Africa’s most important athletics meets, a big city marathon in Nairobi and has built up numerous grassroots sport events in cooperation with local partners. About A.S.O. A.S.O is a company that owns, designs and organises top international sporting events. Specialized in the ‘non-stadia’ events, it has in-house knowledge of professions linked to organisation, media and sales of sports events. A.S.O. organises 250 days of competition per year, with 100 events in 36 countries. A.S.O. is involved in 5 major sports including cycling with the Tour de France, motor sports with the Dakar, mass events with the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, golf with the Lacoste Ladies Open de France and sailing with production and distribution of images for prestigious races. ASO is a subsidiary of the Amaury Group, media and sport group that owns the newspaper L’Equipe.