2025 UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda
A Historic First for Africa
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships will take place September 21–28 in Kigali, Rwanda, marking the first time the event has ever been hosted on the African continent. The week of racing will showcase not only the world’s best cyclists but also Rwanda’s dramatic landscapes and steep, punchy climbs that promise some of the most challenging courses in recent memory.
Race Courses and Elevation Challenges
The road races will be brutal tests of endurance.
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Men’s Elite Road Race: 267.5 km with more than 5,400 meters of climbing.
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Women’s Elite Road Race: 164.6 km featuring around 3,350 meters of climbing.
Both events will use a 15.1 km Kigali city circuit, which includes sharp climbs, cobbled sections, and a steep approach to the finish that will favor explosive climbers and puncheurs over pure sprinters.
The time trials will also feature demanding terrain:
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Men’s Elite ITT: 40.6 km with steep finishing climbs.
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Women’s Elite ITT: 31.2 km with over 450 meters of elevation gain.
Kigali’s altitude and rolling terrain add another layer of difficulty, ensuring that recovery and pacing strategies will be decisive.
What’s New in 2025
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A stand-alone U23 women’s road race will debut, giving young riders their own championship event for the first time.
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All riders will wear GPS trackers for real-time safety monitoring and crash response—part of the UCI’s push to modernize race organization.
International Stars to Watch
The Championships will draw a star-studded field:
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Men’s Contenders: Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) looks to defend his time trial crown and aim for a third straight title, while Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) will target the road race on a course suited to his climbing strength.
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Women’s Contenders: Chloé Dygert (USA), Demi Vollering (Netherlands), and Anna van der Breggen (Netherlands) are among the top favorites across the road race and time trial events.
American Riders to Watch
USA Cycling announced the following Team USA roster:
Elite Men
- Will Barta (Boise, Idaho; Movistar Team) – Road Race, Time Trial
- Luke Lamperti (Sebastopol, Calif.; Soudal Quick-Step) – Road Race
- Quinn Simmons (Durango, Colo.; Lidl-Trek) – Road Race
- Kevin Vermaerke (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.; Team Picnic PostNL) – Road Race
- Larry Warbasse (Traverse City, Mich.; Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – Road Race
Elite Women
- Chloe Dygert (Brownsburg, Ind.; CANYON//SRAM Racing) – Road Race, Time Trial
- Ruth Edwards (Nederland, Colo.; Human Powered Health Cycling) – Road Race, Time Trial
U23 Men
- Evan Boyle (Niskayuna, N.Y.; Hagens Berman Jayco) – Road Race
- Cole Kessler (Newbury Park, Calif.; Lidl-Trek) – Road Race, Time Trial
U23 Women
- Mia Aseltine (Littleton, Colo,; Competitive Edge Racing) – Road Race, Time Trial
- Ella Sabo (Redlands, Calif.; Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28) – Road Race
- Katherine Sarkisov (North Potomic, Md.; CCB p/b Levine Law Group Cycling) – Road Race
Junior Men
- Kashus Adamski (Bloomfield, Mich.; Hot Tubes Cycling) – Road Race
- Ashlin Barry (Toronto, Ont.; JEGG – SKIL – DJR) – Road Race, Time Trial
- Beckam Drake (Amarillo, Tex.; Hill’s Sport Shop) – Road Race, Time Trial
- Enzo Hincapie (Greenville, S.C.; EF Education-ONTO) – Road Race
- Braden Reitz (Carmel, Ind.; Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale Newgen) – Road Race
Junior Women
- Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco) – Road Race, Time Trial
- Liliana Edwards (Washington, D.C.) – Road Race, Time Trial
- Alexis Jaramillo (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sonic Boom Racing) – Road Race
- Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomic, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy) – Road Race
The following riders declined their nominations: Brandon McNulty, Matteo Jorgenson, Neilson Powless, Magnus Sheffield, Kristen Faulkner, Owen Cole, Gavin Hlady, Helena Jones, and Chloe Patrick.
How to Watch the 2025 Road World Championships
Cycling fans around the globe will be able to follow the racing live:
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In the United States, coverage will be shown on FloBikes.
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Internationally, coverage is expected on Eurosport/Discovery+, as well as the UCI’s YouTube channel for select events.
Atmosphere and Expectations
With its demanding terrain, unpredictable weather, and passionate fans, the 2025 Worlds in Kigali will stand out as one of the toughest editions in modern history. The combination of long climbs, technical circuits, and altitude will reward all-round riders with resilience, tactical awareness, and climbing power.
This historic African debut will not only crown new world champions but also showcase Rwanda as a world-class cycling destination.
Photo Credit – ©Soudal Quick-Step – ©Dario Belingheri / Getty Images
