On June 3, 2025, Nathalie Clauwaert, General Director of the Belgian Cycling Federation, announced their participation in the upcoming Road World Championships in Kigali after consultations with Rwanda’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI).
This decision has sparked considerable attention, given that Rwanda cut diplomatic ties with Belgium in March, accusing it of siding in the conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo and disseminating misinformation aimed at destabilizing Rwanda.
In a message posted on the social media platform X, Minister Nduhungirehe described the Belgian Cycling Federation’s decision as a positive step, emphasizing that the Belgian team is welcome just like all other cycling teams.
“This is a positive decision that moves in the right direction. The Belgian cycling team is indeed welcome in Rwanda, just like all the other cycling teams. The Road Cycling World Championship in Rwanda [September 21–28, 2025], the first ever held in Africa, will undoubtedly be a popular and festive sporting event,” he said.
Belgium is among the countries with cyclists who have recently excelled at the Road Cycling World Championships, including Remco Evenepoel, who won the road race in 2022 and secured the Individual Time Trial titles in 2023 and 2024.
Belgian cyclist Lotte Kopecky also won the women’s road race at the Cycling World Championships in both 2023 and 2024.
In February, the Belgian team Soudal-Quick-Step Devo Team declined to participate in the 2025 Tour of Rwanda, citing security concerns related to the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
However, this did not prevent 14 other teams, including Belgium’s Lotto-Dstny Devo Team, from competing in the eight-day race, which proceeded peacefully until its conclusion.
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