Initially, Niewiadoma admitted she arrived with doubts, worried about health risks and focused only on making it safely to race day. But once she began exploring Kigali and its surroundings, her perspective shifted. She described it as a 'heart-opening moment' that helped her discover compassion and connection with people she had never met.
She said the joy of children running alongside the roads especially moved her. 'Seeing all the kids splits my heart in half. I feel for them, but at the same time I see joy and happiness in their eyes.'
At one point, Niewiadoma and her compatriot Marta Lach were captured on video handing out candies to schoolchildren who cheered them during training. Reflecting on the moment, she remarked, 'The more we open up to people, the more smiles.'
Niewiadoma added that while outsiders may believe children in Rwanda need help, the opposite can also be true. 'Probably they are actually helping us, softening our hearts,' she reflected.
The Polish star concluded that her experience in Rwanda reminded her of the deeper lessons of sport and travel. 'Travelling teaches you life, kindness, love and understanding for others, and I'm so grateful for that.'
Niewiadoma, who rides for Canyonâ€"SRAM, won the Tour de France in 2024 after securing the climber's jersey in the same race a year earlier. She will line up for Poland in the women's road race on Saturday, September 27.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
