Tour du Rwanda 2025: Lessons ahead of the World Championship #rwanda #RwOT

This international cycling race, in its 17th edition since becoming a global event, was officially launched by President Paul Kagame alongside David Lappartient, the President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), on February 23, 2025.

This year's edition held special significance as it took place just months before Rwanda hosts the World Cycling Championship slated for September.

Organizers aligned some stages with the championship routes, including the first-day prologue and the seventh stage. UCI's chief commissioner was also present during the race's closing stages.

Before the race began, concerns were raised about security due to the conflict in eastern DRC, particularly in Goma, which borders Rwanda's Rubavu district. Despite these concerns, 14 teams, including Belgium's Lotto-Dstny Devo Team, participated, and the event proceeded smoothly.

Freddy Kamuzinzi, the Director of Tour du Rwanda, reassured the public that the country's security was not compromised. "Security was never an issue, especially in Rubavu, despite initial concerns raised by international media and some teams. Our country has shown that everything is under control," he said.

Rwandan cyclists displayed impressive resilience throughout the competition. Vainqueur Masengesho finished seventh overall, the best finish by a Rwandan since 2022.

Nsengiyumva Shemu won the King of the Mountains classification, while Didier Munyaneza excelled in intermediate sprints. Rwandans also led for the longest stretches in six out of the seven stages.

Fabien Doubey and Henok Mulubrhan, who were leading the general classification, spoke with the UCI commissioner who attended the conclusion of the 2025 Tour du Rwanda.

The most controversial moment came on the final day. Heavy rain caused the road near Mont-Kigali, known as "Norvège," to become too dangerous. During the shortened loop around Kigali Convention Centre, several riders, including Amanuel Gidey and Duarte Marivoet, suffered crashes.

With one lap remaining, race leader Fabien Doubey requested the race's suspension, citing unsafe conditions. After discussions with UCI officials, the stage was canceled, and Doubey was declared the winner based on his previous lead.

Fabien Doubey became the first Frenchman to win Tour du Rwanda. However, his actions led to a fine of 200 Swiss Francs (approximately 315,000 Rwandan Francs) for violating UCI sportsmanship rules, and he may face further disciplinary measures.

Kamuzinzi defended the decision to cancel the stage, attributing it solely to the weather. "It was not our intention to stop the competition. We wanted to see the best rider win, but safety came first," he explained.

Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire emphasized that the incident provided valuable lessons for the upcoming World Championship. "UCI officials were impressed with our preparations, but today's weather-related issues highlight areas for further improvement," she said.

She also stressed Rwanda's commitment to not only hosting world-class events but also strengthening the skills of local cyclists.

Tour du Rwanda 2025 featured 69 riders from 20 countries, including 16 Rwandans. The competition showcased Rwanda's organizational capabilities and provided insights to refine preparations for Africa's first-ever World Cycling Championship later this year.

Head of Tour du Rwanda competition, Kamuzinzi Freddy (center), said that what happened on the final day was caused by the rain, which led the riders to request not to continue racing.