Matteo Sametti and his four children set off from Kasama, Zambia, on August 21. Riding through Tanzania, Burundi, and finally into Rwanda, the family endured steep climbs and long days on the road before arriving in Kigali mid this week, just in time for the cycling spectacle.
From Kasama, Zambia, to Kigali, Rwanda, Matteo Sametti and his family cycled 1,500 km across steep climbs to enjoy the UCI Road World Championships.
Their incredible determination and spirit of adventure brought them all the way to Kigali. Now it's your turn to show the same… pic.twitter.com/ueDPR1An9p
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'We are very passionate about cycling, and I thought it was a unique opportunity to pass through different countries and cultures with my children,' Sametti said, after arriving in Kigali with his children Winnie, Abraham, Osea, and Giuditta.
'Even if it was a big effort, especially in Burundi and Rwanda, where the mountains are a lot, we enjoyed it very much. We were surprised at how strong and tough the kids were.'
For Sametti, who hails from a cycling-rich region of Italy, the journey was about more than sport. He said cycling offers 'the right speed' to connect with people and landscapes.
His children, he added, have inherited the same passion: 'Our love for cycling comes from my Italian origin, and I am even surprised that my children share this passion and talent.'
The family praised Rwanda's roads as well-engineered and well-maintained, noting that mountain routes resembled those in Europe but were less punishing than Burundi's steep ascents.
'The roads here are very good, very nice, and well studied,' Sametti said.
While they look forward to cheering for Italian riders â€" with Matteo personally backing Tadej Pogačar and Pellizzari as favourites â€" family loyalties remain divided.
'Winnie supports Zambia, I support Italy,' Sametti laughed.
The family plans to participate in the social ride on September 20 before settling in as spectators.
The UCI Road World Championships, set for September 21â€"28, will feature 13 races with 1,400 participants from 109 countries. More than 900 riders will compete for the coveted rainbow jerseys, including Rwanda's 54-strong delegation, one of the largest at the event.
With 700 accredited journalists, coverage by 80 broadcasters, and a projected global audience of 330 million viewers, Kigali is set to shine as the world's cycling capital for a week.
For Sametti and his children, the journey itself has already been a victory.
'We can't believe we are here,' he said. 'We are all happy."
Wycliffe Nyamasege
