UCI Road World Championships 2025 : Kigali Ready to Host Africa’s First Cycling World Championship

Rwanda is about to write a historic chapter in global cycling. From September 21 to 28, 2025, Kigali will become the world capital of the UCI Road World Championships, the first time this renowned competition is held in Africa.

We are more than ready to welcome the world

This choice is no coincidence: Rwanda has invested heavily in infrastructure, the organization of international events, and the promotion of its image as a sports and tourism hub. Already recognized for the Tour du Rwanda, classified 2.1 by the UCI and a benchmark in Africa, the country takes a new step by hosting the world’s most prestigious cycling competition.

« We are especially excited because the Tour du Rwanda has used the roads that will host the World Championships. This confirms that we are more than ready to welcome the world, » says Nelly Mukazayire, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports.

A first for Africa, a milestone for Rwanda

This event is much more than a race: it symbolizes Rwanda’s ambition to become a premier destination for major sporting events. Investments in infrastructure, road improvements, and strengthened hotel and tourism capacity are all in place to host athletes, media, and international spectators.

The Rwandan government highlights that sports events attract large numbers of international visitors who bring foreign currency and stimulate the local economy. In 2023, the country generated over $13 million in revenue from major sporting events. This economic boost benefits the hotel, restaurant, transport, and tourism sectors. Partnership agreements, such as those with Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, have been signed for millions of dollars to promote the « Visit Rwanda » brand. Hosting events such as the 2025 Road World Championships and the African Basketball League confirms Rwanda’s strategic approach to sports.

A demanding schedule

Beyond symbolism, the competition will feature some of the most challenging courses in championship history: high altitudes, significant elevation gains, and mountainous circuits. The race profiles will favor climbers.

The program includes 13 titles in total: road races, time trials, elite, Under-23, and junior categories, including the first independent U23 women’s race.

Sport as a lever for continental development and visibility

With more than 1,000 cyclists and delegations expected, millions of viewers worldwide, and exceptional media coverage, Kigali aims to transform this World Championship into a showcase of African expertise. Collaborations with international sponsors, technological partnerships, and the involvement of the local private sector underline the country’s strategy: making sport a driver of development and continental visibility. International exposure strengthens the Rwanda brand, positioning it as an innovative sports and tourism hub.

Organizing such a large-scale event mobilizes multiple sectors: construction, hospitality, transport, communications, security, healthcare, and more. The employment multiplier effect is significant. However, challenges are numerous: transport logistics, crowd management, security—particularly due to tensions in the Great Lakes region—high costs, and post-event maintenance.

Global spotlight

For the UCI, this is a strategic move: expanding cycling beyond traditional strongholds. For delegations, it offers a challenging terrain with prestige.

This historic event will be the first Road Cycling World Championship held on the African continent. We are very pleased that Rwanda is hosting this competition, with Kigali providing an ideal setting for a memorable edition

« This historic event will be the first Road Cycling World Championship held on the African continent. We are very pleased that Rwanda is hosting this competition, with Kigali providing an ideal setting for a memorable edition, » said David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale.

By hosting this global event, Rwanda is not merely organizing a sports competition. It is sending a strong message: Africa can now claim its place on the world stage, not only in sports but also in organization, innovation, and economic attractiveness. This event will serve as a test as Rwanda has officially applied to host a Formula 1 Grand Prix, an ambitious project aiming to bring F1 back to Africa for the first time since 1993, with a state-of-the-art circuit near Kigali potentially by 2027.