ISLAMABAD : Sports Reporter – Kigali, the capital city of Rwanda has become the center of cycling champions and enthisasts from all over Africa and the world around for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships that have been officially opened by the Ministry of Sports of Rwanda, the President of the Rwanda Cycling Federation, and the President of UCI on 21 Sep to be continued till 28 Sep 2025.
The global cycling spotlight will shine on the vibrant city of Kigali, Rwanda, to host the prestigious 2025 UCI Road World Championships for the first time on the African continent in the event’s 103-year history.
The championships will feature 13 races and bring together more than 1300 participants and 1,164 starters. In total, 778 unique riders, representing 109 countries and 109 teams, are registered to compete for the coveted rainbow jerseys.
It is a momentous occasion that will leave a lasting legacy, inspiring generations to embrace the joy of cycling and continue reaching new heights.
The magnificent event was kickstarted with a participatory social ride in the shining city of Kigali. From kids to pros, families to fans, the streets came alive with joy, color, and cycling spirit as the Social Ride brought us all together ahead of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships. This is what community looks like.
Prominent among the enthusiasts who contributed the most to welcome the event were Mr. Matteo Sametti and his family. They cycled 1,500 km from Kasama, Zambia, to Kigali, Rwanda across steep climbs to enjoy the UCI Road World Championships. Their incredible determination and spirit of adventure brought them all the way to Kigali.
The Men’s Elite Road Race has drawn the largest field with 220 riders, followed by the Men’s Junior Road Race with 175 participants. The Men’s Under 23 Road Race will line up 149 riders, while the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay brings together 110 competitors.
In the women’s program, the Elite Road Race has 129 riders confirmed, with the Women’s Junior Road Race attracting 92 riders and the Women’s Under 23 Road Race fielding 107.
The individual time trials include 75 riders in the Men’s Elite and 73 in the Men’s Under 23 events, 105 in the Men’s Junior event, 55 in the Women’s Elite, 54 in the Women’s Junior, and 59 in the Women’s Under 23 category.
Spain leads the entries with 67 riders, closely followed by Italy with 66 and Canada with 63. Belgium has 61 entries while France has 60.
Host nation Rwanda is among the top six delegations with 54 riders registered, underlining the significance of the championships for the country’s cycling ambitions. Australia follows with 52 riders, while Switzerland, Germany, and the Netherlands round out the top ten with 43, 42, and 39, respectively.
Other nations with notable delegations include Colombia with 35, Ethiopia with 34, the United States with 34, Great Britain with 34, and Slovenia with 33. Mauritius brings 28 riders, South Africa 25, Ukraine 24, Czechia 24, and Kazakhstan 24. Uganda has 23 entries, while Kenya and Mali each send 16.
The event is expected to command massive international attention. The UCI anticipates coverage from 700 accredited journalists representing 124 countries, with 80 television broadcasters set to beam the races to audiences around the world.
The championships are projected to reach more than 330 million viewers, with digital platforms further amplifying the exposure. Social media engagement is expected to exceed seven million interactions, while the UCI website anticipates 1.5 million visits during the week-long competition.
Rwanda is known as the land of a thousand hills, Rwanda’s stunning scenery and it’s friendly people offer unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world. It is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforest and sweeping plains. Travellers come from far and wide to catch a glimpse of the magnificent gorillas, yet there is so much more to see and experience.
