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 Canyon–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.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, September 26, 2025, Lappartient praised the successful staging of the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, the first time the event has been held in Africa.
He said the event was “really perfectly organised”, adding that even officials who had doubts were convinced once they arrived: “When they arrived here, they thought, ‘Wow, that’s really perfectly organised.’”
Lappartient also highlighted the hospitality and atmosphere in Kigali: “It’s safe, it’s beautiful, and the people are very friendly, happy to be here. A lot of smiles on their faces… I can feel also the African spirit, and that’s something really nice.”
He noted that many of his colleagues had never been to Africa and came with different expectations: “They had the image of Africa that is not really at the level of Rwanda that we can witness today. They were really impressed by everything here.”
Asked whether Africa could host more major competitions, Lappartient affirmed, highlighting Rwanda as a potential host for the Mountain Bike World Championships.
“Yes, I think it will be possible. I’m sure that mountain biking can be organised one day. You have everything needed to host it.”
He stressed the importance of ensuring that cycling grows beyond Europe, saying the UCI is “always very careful to really have the events worldwide, not only located in Europe.”
Looking ahead, he pointed to Rwanda’s potential to host more regular races as a legacy of the 2025 championships: “It would be good that, as a kind of legacy of these championships, we can even have more races here in the country… You need to compete, and we will not be able to bring everybody to race in Europe. So we need to have races here.”
Lappartient, who was recently re-elected to lead the UCI until 2029, also underlined the federation’s global vision. After Kigali, the next cities set to host the UCI Road World Championships are Montreal, Canada (2026); the French Alps, France (2027); Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2028); Roskilde, Denmark (2029); Brussels, Belgium (2030); and Trentino, Italy (2031).
At just 18 years old, Hudson stunned a world-class field and an electric Rwandan crowd by attacking from 36 kilometres out and never looking back. He crossed the finish line alone in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 19 seconds, becoming the first British rider ever to take the junior men’s road race rainbow jersey.
{{High speed, relentless early action
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The 119.3-kilometre race, comprising eight punishing laps of Kigali’s hilly, cobbled circuit, started fast under brilliant sunshine. Big nations like France, Italy, Belgium, and Austria immediately drove the pace, while fans lined the streets, waving flags and ringing bells.
Early on, American Beckham Drake made the first serious move, stretching his lead to over a minute. Behind him, riders including France’s Johan Blanc and Austria’s Heimo Fugger tried to organise counters. The peloton was restless, with constant surges and break attempts.
By the halfway mark, Drake was still clear but fading, and the main group, including heavy favourites Spain’s Benjamin Noval and Italy’s Mattia Agostinacchio, closed the gap. The race was wide open.
{{Hudson seizes his chance
}}
Spotting a moment of hesitation after another flurry of attacks, Hudson launched. “I just saw the pace drop a bit, so I went,” he explained after the finish, still catching his breath. What began as a bold gamble quickly turned into a solo masterclass.
Behind, frantic organisation tried to form — with the Netherlands’ Daan Dijkman pulling, Italy responding — but nothing stuck. Hudson’s lead grew to nearly 40 seconds as the crowd fired him up.
{{The final test: Noval’s charge and heartbreak
}}
With one lap remaining, Spanish powerhouse Benjamin Noval surged on the Côte de Kimihurura climb, clawing Hudson’s gap down to just fifteen seconds. But disaster struck: Noval suddenly crashed on a straight section with less than three kilometres to go, ending his medal hopes.
France’s Johan Blanc was left alone to chase, while Poland’s Jan Michal Jackowiak tried a desperate late bridge. But Hudson, gritting his teeth and hammering the cobbled rise into downtown Kigali, refused to break.
Hudson entered the finishing straight alone, soaking in deafening cheers before punching the air in triumph. He clocked 2:55:19, with Blanc arriving for silver at 2:55:35 (+16 seconds) and Jackowiak matching that time but taking bronze. Britain’s dominance was clear with Max Hinds and Matthew Peace in fourth and fifth.
“It’s still sinking in,” Hudson said, smiling through exhaustion. “I thought I’d be caught with a lap to go… but somehow, I stayed away. Winning my first world title here, in Africa, is just unbelievable.”
{{Home pride for Rwanda
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Rwanda, hosting its first Road World Championships, had plenty to cheer for. Moïse Ntirenganya battled through the demanding race and was among just 66 finishers out of 142 starters, crossing in 3:09:32 (+14:13). Fellow Rwandan Jackson Nkurikiyinka rode bravely but abandoned on lap five after an intense opening half.
{{Men’s Junior Road Race — Top 10 Results
}}
1. Harry Hudson (GBR) – 2:55:19
2. Johan Blanc (FRA) – 2:55:35 (+0:16)
3. Jan Michal Jackowiak (POL) – 2:55:35 (+0:16)
4. Max Hinds (GBR) – 2:55:41 (+0:22)
5. Matthew Peace (GBR) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
6. Édouard Claisse (BEL) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
7. Elias Wandel (SWE) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
8. Daan Dijkman (NED) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
9. Moritz Mauss (GER) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
10. Benedikt Benz (GER) – 2:55:43 (+0:24)
On Thursday, September 25, 2025, it was officially confirmed that Mugisha would be replaced by Patrick Byukusenge on Rwanda’s national team for the road race scheduled on Sunday, September 28, 2025.
During the Tour du Rwanda 2025 held in February, Mugisha was involved in a crash that left a shock on two front teeth, though he continued racing afterward.
Despite the pain, he resumed training with the goal of competing at the ongoing UCI World Championships in Kigali. He even took part in the opening day of the event, finishing 31st in the Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial.
However, after that race, his pain intensified significantly, making it impossible to continue training. On Thursday, September 25, he was admitted to King Faisal Hospital in Kigali to receive treatment for the infection in his teeth.
Speaking to IGIHE, Mugisha expressed disappointment but said he is shifting his focus to upcoming continental competitions: “It happens, but I’m really sad. I have a serious problem. My target now is the African Championships,” he said.
For Sunday’s main road race — the highlight event of the UCI Road World Championships taking place in Kigali — Rwanda will be represented by Eric Manizabayo, Vainqueur Masengesho, Patrick Byukusenge, Eric Muhoza, Eric Nkundabera, and Nsengiyumva Shemu.
The final stretch of the race proved to be a nail-biting conclusion. Gery, who started in 13th place after lap 1, steadily improved her position with each passing lap. By lap 5, she was already in 3rd place, but a challenging 6th lap saw her drop to 15th. Undeterred, Gery fought back and surged to the front in the final laps. Supported by her teammate Marion Bunel, who finished 5th, just 12 seconds behind Gery, the two French riders worked together to hold off the competition, allowing Gery to claim victory.
“It’s unbelievable. It was a long wait, but it’s amazing. It was a masterpiece for the team. There were only three of us, but we managed to race perfectly. We had three very strong girls, and Marion was amazing at the finish,” Gery said.
Slovakia’s Viktoria Chladonová took the silver medal, finishing just 2 seconds behind Gery with a time of 3:24:28. Chladonová had a strong start and led for much of the race, but despite a valiant early effort and her sprint finish, she couldn’t hold off the relentless pace set by Gery and her teammate.
Spain’s Paula Blasi Cairol earned the bronze medal with a time of 3:24:38, just 12 seconds behind Gery. Blasi Cairol maintained a steady pace throughout the race, ultimately securing her spot on the podium.
Italy’s Eleonora Ciabocco had a brief moment in the lead at lap 5, but she struggled to hold onto her position as the race progressed. She eventually finished 4th in the same time as Blasi Cairol, 3:24:38.
One of the standout moments of the race came from Sweden’s Kagevi Stina, who made a daring breakaway with 10 kilometers to go, gaining a 26-second lead. However, as the race reached its climax, the pack reeled her in, and she finished 11th.
Meanwhile, Poland’s Malwina Mul made a stunning comeback after initially falling behind. With incredible acceleration at kilometer 24, she gained a 10-second lead and briefly set herself apart from the field. However, she too fell short of the podium, finishing outside the top 10.
{{Tough day for local riders
}}
It was a tough day for Rwanda’s local riders, as none of them managed to finish the race. Mwamikazi Jazilla, Nyirarukundo Claudette, Ntakirutimana Martha, and Iragena Charlotte all dropped out at various points in the race. Jazilla left on lap 7, Nyirarukundo on lap 6, Ntakirutimana on lap 5, and Iragena on lap 3. Only 35 riders out of the starting field managed to complete the demanding race.
The Head of State made the remarks during the opening ceremony of the 194th UCI Congress in Kigali on Thursday, where leaders from 132 national cycling federations gathered to mark the milestone event.
President Kagame lauded Lappartient for standing up for fairness in global sports hosting, noting that his principled leadership opened doors for Africa on the international stage.
“The main rule of any sport is fairness,” Kagame said. “We thank UCI President David Lappartient for his integrity and courage to stand up for what is right and fair. Governing bodies of sports have a responsibility to open doors and expand access, and that is what we see UCI doing.”
He also addressed the scepticism and dismissive attitudes that often greet Africa hosting global events, calling them outdated and wrong.
“Too often, when Africa or another non-traditional host is chosen for a global event, the reaction is sceptical and frequently dismissive. These reflexive attitudes are outdated and wrong,” Kagame said, emphasizing that Africa has the talent, vision, and infrastructure to host world-class competitions.
President Kagame highlighted Rwanda’s own journey in developing cycling, pointing to investments in infrastructure, training, and the integration of three UCI satellite centres, which make the country only the second in Africa to host such facilities.
He also noted that this week’s championship features 108 nations, including a record 36 from Africa, underscoring the continent’s growing presence in the sport.
In his address on Thursday, UCI President David Lappartient hailed Rwanda’s role in making history by hosting the UCI Congress and World Championships.
“Your Excellency, President Paul Kagame, it’s a very big honour to have you here with us,” Lappartient said. “The 132 national federations here asked me to thank you and to thank Rwanda for making the history. And it is a wonderful chapter. We will never forget our time in your beautiful country.”
He praised the passion and enthusiasm of Rwandan fans and athletes, noting that the images and memories of the week in Kigali would remain with the cycling world forever.
“Your presence in this room today gives us inspiration and adds prestige to the UCI Congress. Your Excellency, you have made a great impact on the UCI World Championship and the UCI Congress. Thank you very much,” he added.
On Sunday, during the official launch of the UCI in Kigali, Lappartient described the event as the fulfilment of a long-held dream since his 2017 election campaign.
“When I was running for president, I had a dream to bring our pinnacle event to Africa,” he said. “The talent from Africa has grown tremendously and this week, the world will witness it… This will likely be the hardest UCI Road World Championship ever but also one of the most spectacular, in the Land of a Thousand Hills.”
He credited Rwanda’s leadership for making the milestone possible. “Without the vision of President Paul Kagame, without our shared vision, it would have been impossible. We are so proud to be here for the first time ever,” Lappartient told the audience.
The week-long championship in Kigali is expected to leave a lasting legacy, not only in sporting achievements but also in demonstrating Africa’s capacity to host world-class events.
The race was a nail-biting contest, especially between Australia and France. As the French team—consisting of Bruno Armirail, Paul Seixas, Pavel Sivakov, Cédrine Kerbaol, Juliette Labous, and Maëva Squiban—crossed the line with a time of 54:35.71, they briefly held the hot seat but had to settle for silver. Despite holding the lead for the majority of the race, France could not hold off Australia’s final push. Switzerland, also battling hard throughout the race, secured third place with a time of 54:58.89.
{{Switzerland’s remarkable recovery
}}
Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser showed exceptional resilience when an unexpected bike change left her temporarily behind the pack. Undeterred, Reusser rejoined her teammates and, with solid teamwork, helped Switzerland finish just 10 seconds behind France. The Swiss team’s recovery demonstrated their tenacity and ability to handle adversity under pressure.
{{Top times at the relay point
}}
The race unfolded dynamically, with Switzerland setting the early pace, leading the field after the men’s trio finished their part. Italy briefly surged to the top, but France overtook them at the midway switchover, moving into the lead.
At that point, Switzerland remained in the top spot, holding a 20-second advantage. As the women riders took over, France put in the quickest women’s time of the day—12 seconds faster than anyone else and 28 seconds ahead of Australia. This fast-paced finish set up a dramatic showdown for the gold, with Australia ultimately securing victory by a narrow margin.
Amanda Spratt, reflecting on the intense final moments of the race, said, “I knew from the cobbled climb on that it was just going to be like hell, just push through and push through. Brodie was so strong in that last part, so I knew I had to hold the wheel and that it was going to be close. Matt White, our director, was screaming at us to sprint, sprint, sprint.”
Teammate Michael Matthews added, “It’s not often we get a chance to ride with other Aussies like this in a full Aussie event, so I think we had full focus for this after we won last year. Just being back with the team and mixing it with the girls in the last few days, and putting it together today was just the cherry on top of the cake.”
The Mixed Relay featured 15 teams, with fierce competition throughout the day. Germany, who lost the previous year’s title to Australia by less than a second, finished in 5th place with a time of 56:04.05, 1:33.58 behind the winners.
Meanwhile, Italy faded from second place at the midway point to finish fourth, with a time of 55:45.03. The battle for the top five spots was intense, with only seconds separating the teams.
Rwanda, with a team composed of Byukusenge Patrick, Nkundabera Eric, Uwiduhaye Mike, Ingabire Diane, Nirere Xaverine, and Nyirarukundo Claudette, put up a strong fight and finished in 11th place with a time of 1:03:08.97, 8:38.50 behind the winning Australian team. Their performance on home soil was a testament to their growing presence in international cycling.
{{2025 UCI mixed relay final results
}}
1. Australia – 54:30.47
2. France – 54:35.71 (+5.24)
3. Switzerland – 54:40.47 (+10.00)
4. Italy – 55:45.03 (+1:14.56)
5. Germany – 56:04.05 (+1:33.58)
6. Spain – 56:25.99 (+1:55.52)
7. Belgium – 58:50.14 (+4:19.67)
8. Ukraine – 1:00:33.83 (+6:03.36)
9. China – 1:01:08.72 (+6:38.25)
10. Ethiopia – 1:02:22.60 (+7:52.13)
11. Rwanda – 1:03:08.97 (+8:38.50)
12. Mauritius – 1:03:28.23 (+8:57.76)
13. UCI World Cycling Centre – 1:03:34.14 (+9:03.67)
The 18-year-old cycled through the challenging 22.6-kilometre course with a blistering time of 29:07.61, securing his place at the top of the podium.
Mouris’ victory marked a momentous achievement, as it was the second gold for the Netherlands of the day, following Megan Arens’ dominant performance in the Women’s Junior Time Trial earlier in the morning.
Known for his exceptional racing intelligence and explosive speed, Mouris added yet another prestigious title to his growing resume. The young Dutch rider, already the winner of the Paris-Roubaix Juniors and other key stage races, proved once again why he is one of the most promising talents in junior cycling.
Reflecting on his performance after the race, Mouris shared, “It’s incredible that we both won here, and it’s amazing to deliver my best performance and win the world title. Pacing was difficult, and it was hard not to blow up, but I managed to recover enough in the descent to keep my legs going for the final climb.”
He continued, “The course was really tough, and the heat made it even harder. It was definitely one of the most difficult time trials I’ve done.”
{{Ashlin Barry secures a silver medal for the U.S.
}}
Ashlin Barry (USA) showcased his strength and consistency, finishing in second place with a time of 29:14.45, just 6.84 seconds behind Mouris. Barry, who also earned the U.S. National Junior Time Trial Championship title, showed impressive speed throughout the race, continuing his strong season with podium finishes at several international events.
{{Belgium’s Seff van Kerckhove grabs bronze
}}
Claiming the third spot was Seff van Kerckhove of Belgium, who crossed the line in 29:16.19—just 8.58 seconds behind Barry. Van Kerckhove, the Belgian Junior Time Trial Champion, has proven to be a fierce competitor, having also triumphed in events like the LVM Saarland Trofeo and Giro della Lunigiana.
Beckam Drake (USA) finished just outside the podium in fourth place with a time of 29:21.16. Known for his performances in the Tour de l’Abitibi and the Junior Tour of Ireland, Drake had a solid race but crossed the line 13 seconds behind Van Kerckhove.
The fifth-place finish went to Max Hinds (Great Britain), who clocked 29:26.52. The gold medalist in the Boys’ Time Trial at the European Youth Olympic Festival, Hinds has been a consistent performer throughout his junior career and demonstrated his potential once again with a strong finish in a fiercely competitive field.
{{Dylan Sage’s surprising setback
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Despite being one of the race’s pre-race favourites, Dylan Sage (GBR), the reigning British Junior Time Trial National Champion, finished in 18th place with a time of 30:28.51. Sage, who had a string of solid results this season—including a podium finish at the LVM Saarland Trofeo—struggled on the day and was unable to match the blistering pace set by the leaders.
{{Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial: Top 10 Results
}}
Michiel Mouris (NED) – 29:07.61
Ashlin Barry (USA) – 29:14.45 (+6.84)
Seff van Kerckhove (BEL) – 29:16.19 (+8.58)
Beckam Drake (USA) – 29:21.16 (+13.55)
Max Hinds (GBR) – 29:26.52 (+18.91)
Roberto Capello (ITA) – 29:36.55 (+28.94)
Jan Jackowiak (POL) – 29:37.41 (+29.80)
Vilgot Reinhold (SWE) – 29:55.82 (+48.21)
Mattia Agostinacchio (ITA) – 29:58.57 (+50.96)
Max Goold (AUS) – 30:02.15 (+54.54)
{{Rwandan cyclists on the global stages
}}
In a historic moment for Rwandan cycling, Pacifique Byusa and Brian Ishimwe represented the home nation in the Junior Men’s Time Trial. Byusa finished with a time of 34:34.97, securing 53rd place, while Ishimwe clocked 34:59.77 for 55th place.
The 18-year-old cyclist delivered a stellar performance, completing the 18.3-kilometer course in 25:47.41, securing her spot at the top of the podium.
“It was a really hard race. I tried to go a little easier on the first climb and push harder on the last one. This win really means a lot to me. I still can’t believe it just happened,” she remarked after her victory.
Arens’ victory adds to an already impressive season. In 2025, she placed second in both the Ronde van Vlaanderen WJ and Gent-Wevelgem WJ, proving her ability to compete with the best.
Arens had also won the National Championships Netherlands WJ – ITT in 2024 and finished 9th in last year’s World Championships ITT in Zürich, showcasing her consistency at the highest level.
{{Spanish and Norwegian riders push hard for podium finishes
}}
In second place, Spain’s Paula Ostiz Taco finished with a time of 26:22.71, 35.30 seconds behind Arens.
Ostiz Taco, who won the 2024 European Junior Time Trial Championship, had an outstanding season in 2025, securing victories at the Grand Prix Valromey Tour Féminin and the Watersley Ladies Challenge, as well as finishing as the runner-up in both the Spanish Junior Time Trial Championship and the Ronde van Vlaanderen WJ.
Norwegian rider Oda Aune Gissinger, another standout in time trials, took third place with a time of 26:24.95, just 37.54 seconds off Arens’ pace.
Gissinger, the current European Junior Time Trial Champion, has quickly become one of Norway’s brightest cycling talents. This year, she won the Grand Prix Ceratizit Women Junior and the Norwegian Junior National Championships, among other accolades.
{{Boothman’s near podium finish derailed by mishap
}}
The competition was fierce, and one of the most notable stories of the day was the unfortunate mishap of Erin Boothman from Great Britain.
Boothman, the 2025 European Junior Time Trial Champion, was riding strong and even placed herself in contention for a podium finish, having been very close to Arens at the intermediate point. However, a setback struck as Boothman unclipped her foot from the pedal at the bottom of the climb in Kimihurura, bringing her to a complete stop.
Boothman finished in 5th place with a time of 26:36.10, just 48.69 seconds behind Arens.
{{Women’s Junior Individual Time Trial: Top 10 Results
}}
1. Megan Arens (Netherlands) – 25:47.41
2. Paula Ostiz Taco (Spain) – 26:22.71 (+35.30)
3. Oda Aune Gissinger (Norway) – 26:24.95 (+37.54)
7. Maria Okrucinska (Poland) – 26:54.25 (+1:06.84)
8. Abigail Miller (Great Britain) – 27:19.43 (+1:32.02)
9. Liliana Edwards (USA) – 27:20.17 (+1:32.76)
10. Laura Five (Belgium) – 27:23.54 (+1:36.13)
{{Rwandan cyclists show their potential
}}
Rwandan junior cyclists Masengesho Yvonne and Uwiringiyimana Liliane competed fiercely in the race, completing the course in times of 29:43.04 and 30:58.67, finishing in 33rd and 40th place, respectively.
The deal was signed in New York on September 22, 2025, by Rwanda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe, and Hungary’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Péter Szijjártó.
The agreement follows Minister Nduhungirehe’s visit to Hungary in May 2025, alongside Rwanda’s Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire. During that trip, the delegation toured the famed Hungaroring Formula 1 circuit, which has hosted races since 1986, and also took part in the launch of the Tour de Hongrie, one of Europe’s major cycling races.
Beyond sports, both governments reaffirmed their commitment to deepen cooperation in diplomacy, water resource management, education, and investment.
This latest accord signals Rwanda’s growing interest in expanding international partnerships in sport, while Hungary gains a new African ally in advancing global sporting exchanges.
🎥It’s official! @RwandaMFA Min. @onduhungirehe and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary🇭🇺, H.E Péter Szijjártó (@FM_Szijjarto) have signed an MoU on cooperation in #Sports.
Rwanda🇷🇼 and Hungary🇭🇺’s partnership also continues in diplomacy, water management,… pic.twitter.com/7zoQRKgywF
— Permanent Mission of Rwanda to The United Nations (@RwandaUN) September 22, 2025
