This edition marks a historic first for Africa, as the championship, held annually for 103 years, comes to the continent for the first time. The under-23 category is also debuting, with the inaugural winner set to make history.
The elite men's road race will cover 267.5 km, with 5,475 metres of climbing, making it one of the toughest courses in recent championship history.
Historically, Spain's Alejandro Valverde holds the record with seven world championship medals: one gold (2018), two silvers (2003, 2005), and four bronzes (2006, 2012, 2013, 2014). Three riders, Italy's Alfredo Binda, Belgium's Rik Van Steenbergen, and Spain's Óscar Freire, have each won the title three times.
Riders and teams
The event is expected to feature 1,000 riders from around the world. Confirmed stars include Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia), reigning world and Tour de France champion, and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France), current women's world champion.
Other riders to watch include Oscar Onley (UK), Remco Evenepoel (Belgium), Juan Ayuso (Spain), and Thymen Arensman (Netherlands).
Final team selections are still underway, as riders compete in other major events. This includes La Vuelta, which, for its 2025 edition, is a rare multi-country race passing through Italy, France, Andorra, and Spain. The competition at these events will play a key role in the final rider selections for the UCI championships.
Media, officials, and global audience
The championship will involve 5,000 officials and commissaires. Around 15,000 visitors are expected in Rwanda over the eight days.
Media coverage is projected to include 700 accredited journalists from 124 countries and 80 TV channels, reaching a global audience of over 330 million cycling fans. Social media engagement is expected to exceed 7 million, with 1.5 million visitors anticipated on the UCI website.
Prime host
Rwanda's moderate climate (21°Câ€"27°C), strong safety record, and world-class infrastructure make it an ideal host for international competitions. According to the World Economic Forum, Rwanda is the safest country in Africa and fifth globally.
Kigali was ranked the second-best city in Africa for living and investment by the Africa Report 2024. The country also ranks second in Africa for hosting international conferences (ICCA 2024).
Major events like Tour du Rwanda (UCI 2.1) and the Kigali International Peace Marathon have cemented Rwanda's reputation for organising high-level sporting competitions.
Rwanda's accessibility will make it easier for thousands of international riders, officials, and fans to attend the championships.
Kigali is served by major airlines, including RwandAir, Ethiopian Airlines, Kenya Airways, KLM, Qatar Airways, Brussels Airlines, EgyptAir, and Turkish Airlines. Visitors from AU, Commonwealth, and La Francophonie member countries enjoy visa-free entry, while facilitated visas are available for other travellers.
IGIHE
