In an interview with the media about preparations for the elite men’s road race scheduled for Sunday, 28 September 2025, Pogačar did not hold back in comparing the two events.
Asked how he viewed the Rwanda championships compared to the 2024 edition in Australia, he said: “This is much better. Honestly, the layout of the roads here is ten times more challenging than in Australia. Please understand, I don’t mean to disrespect the Australians who designed their course, but it just didn’t feel as tough as this one.”
The 27-year-old, who won the 2024 UCI Road World Championships, said his preparations have gone well and he is determined to work with his teammates to reclaim the gold medal.
“I came here very motivated for the road race on Sunday. I have big ambitions and my legs are ready. We brought a strong team and believe we’re among the top favorites. Our goals are clear, and the energy from the fans along the roads is incredible.”
He highlighted the overwhelming support already present even during training: “Spectators fill the roads during training — it already feels like race day. The roads are in great condition. Yes, the weather is different from home, but that’s fine. We were lucky to train on the outskirts of the city, it’s beautiful and the air is fresh. It’s good that the World Championships are coming to Africa too.”
Having just reclaimed the Tour de France title for the fourth time, the Slovenian rider shared insights about the Kigali course and the challenges it presents: “The roads I’m focusing on include Mont Kigali and the cobblestones at Kwa Mutwe. The cobbles here are different from Belgium — these ones climb in a circular pattern, while others are sharper. But that’s good; it adds to the difficulty of the race.”
“I don’t know why Mont Kigali is only included once and mid-race. We have plenty of other hills to play with, so it’s fine. Overall, the course is great, and we’re ready to compete.”
Pogačar will lead Team Slovenia, joined by top riders such as Primož Roglič, Gal Glivar, Matevž Govekar, Luka Mezgec, Matej Mohorič, Domen Novak, Jaka Primožič, and Matic Žumer.
They will face powerhouse teams including Belgium with Remco Evenepoel; Denmark with Casper Phillip Pedersen; Great Britain with Tom Pidcock; and strong competitors from 57 other countries in the 267.5-kilometer race.
The 74-kilometre showdown kicked off at 8:20 am, with fans packing the climbs and roundabouts to cheer every move. Spain wasted no time showing intent. Leyre Almena Requena lit up the opening hour, going solo and stringing out the peloton. Her attack forced the rest of the field to burn matches early.
Crashes and mechanicals shaped the race long before the finale. Italy’s Giada Silo slid out on a slick corner but clawed back, while Dutch world time trial champ Megan Arens never looked at ease on the ascents and eventually faded to 20th.
Africa roared when Tsige Kiros of Ethiopia chased back after a costly mechanical on the cobbles. Determined and fearless, she rejoined the front group, stirring the Kigali crowds.
But it was Switzerland’s Anja Grossmann who dictated the pace, marking every dangerous move and keeping the peloton under control. Britain’s Arabella Blackburn tested the field, the Australians stayed watchful, and Spain quietly shielded Ostiz, saving her legs for the finale.
{{The final lap explodes
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With two laps to go, 37 riders were still in the hunt. Czech rider Antonie Cermanova and Dutch Roos Muller launched daring attacks, only for Grossmann to snuff them out. Greece’s Stampori had a go too, but Spain reeled her in.
By the bell lap, just 24 remained. The heat was biting, and bottles were tossed. Then came the race’s make-or-break feature: the jagged Côte de Kimihurura.
Grossmann hit the gas on the final cobbled climb, shredding the group. Kiros finally cracked, joined by Australia’s Tuffy S and Britain’s Erin Boothman, whose bad luck with mechanical issues resurfaced and ended her day.
{{The rainbow sprint
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Five riders crested the climb together — Grossmann, Italy’s Chantal Pegolo, and a perfectly poised Ostiz among them. With 200 meters to go, the Spaniard unleashed her sprint. Calm all day, she rocketed past her rivals in an unstoppable burst.
All three podium finishers clocked 2:09:19, but Ostiz’s raw speed gave her clear daylight at the line. Pegolo and Grossmann settled for silver and bronze.
“It’s a dream come true,” Ostiz said, fighting back tears as she celebrated Spain’s breakthrough. “My family is watching me now, and I can only thank God. I knew I had to save my strength until the end because the climbs were tough. I trusted my sprint, and it worked when it mattered most.”
{{Pride for the hosts
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The home crowd had reason to cheer, too. Rwanda’s Yvonne Masengesho and Liliane Uwiringiyimana toughed out the savage course to finish 48th and 49th from a 73-rider start. They were loudly applauded as they completed each lap.
The side event held on Thursday, titled “Peace, Governance, and the Right to Development: Lessons Learned from the Great Lakes Region and Beyond,” gathered diplomats, experts, and civil society representatives to examine practical ways to build resilient and inclusive societies.
Urujeni Bakuramutsa, Permanent Representative of Rwanda to the United Nations in Geneva, highlighted Rwanda’s experience, emphasizing that unity has been built on the rule of law and a right-to-development agenda.
“Systems had to be strengthened and continue to be improved to ensure that the cornerstone of all development is based on the rule of law. From justice, development is advancing in step: we are talking about concrete rights such as access to water, electricity, education, financial inclusion, and rising life expectancy with universal health coverage,” she stated.
Opening the discussion, Ms. Trisha Riedy, Manager and Senior Trainer at UNITAR, affirmed the Institute’s commitment to advancing governance and human rights.
She stressed that “the right to development is not a privilege — it is a fundamental human right. One that must be realized through accountable governance, inclusive institutions, and the rule of law.”
Moderating the panel, Dr. Bojana Coulibaly, Political Discourse Analyst, underlined the need for decisive leadership. She noted: “Durable solutions require political courage: leaders must reject sectarianism and embrace policies that unite rather than divide.”
Panelist Dr. Alex Mvuka, Researcher and Consultant (Great Lakes Region of Africa), reflected on lessons from international and national approaches to post-conflict governance, underscoring that while strengthening state institutions has been central, lasting peace and development require participatory models that empower local actors.
He pointed to Rwanda’s homegrown solutions, such as imihigo and Ubudehe, as successful initiatives demonstrating how inclusive governance can drive social transformation.
Drawing on decades of legal and field experience in the Great Lakes region, particularly in eastern DRC, Advocate Bernard Maingain stressed the consequences when impunity prevails and ethnic groups are targeted. He emphasized that hatred and divisive ideology remain present in the region and must urgently be addressed and combated at all costs.
The side event underscored the importance of Rwanda–UNITAR collaboration in spotlighting the nexus between governance, peace, and development.
In closing, Ambassador Bakuramutsa thanked UNITAR and the panelists for their contributions, reiterating Rwanda’s conviction that the right to development must remain anchored in justice, inclusivity, and effective governance to achieve lasting peace.
The revocation followed remarks President Petro made during a street protest.
The State Department confirmed the decision in a post on X, stating: “Earlier today, Colombian president Gustavo Petro stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”
The actions in question occurred when the leftist Colombian leader joined thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside the UN headquarters.
During his address, President Petro was filmed urging American service members to defy authority. According to multiple reports, he said: “I ask all the soldiers in the United States army not to point their rifles at humanity. Disobey Trump’s order! Obey the order of humanity!”
The remarks came amid escalating tensions between the two countries, which have historically been strong allies.
The incident followed President Petro’s formal address to the UN General Assembly earlier in the week. In that speech, he had already delivered sharp criticism toward the US, accusing President Donald Trump of being “complicit in genocide” in Gaza and calling for “criminal proceedings” against US officials over missile strikes on suspected drug-running boats in the Caribbean.
In response to the visa revocation, Colombia’s Interior Minister, Armando Benedetti, wrote on X that the action was politically motivated. The minister suggested that the US was targeting Petro because he “dared to denounce the genocide against Palestine at the UN.”
Colombian media reported that President Petro was already en route to Bogotá from New York on Friday night when the State Department made the announcement.
Petro is the second Colombian president whose US visa has been revoked; the first was Ernesto Samper in 1996, over alleged drug trafficking ties, according to TRT World.
Zelensky wrote earlier on the social media platform X that Ukrainian forces had recorded violations of the country’s airspace “by reconnaissance drones, which are likely Hungarian,” and that preliminary assessments suggested the flights may have targeted Ukraine’s border industrial areas.
Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade Peter Szijjarto has strongly denied the allegation. Writing on his Facebook page, Szijjarto said Zelensky “is losing himself in anti-Hungarian sentiments” and “is chasing phantoms.”
Relations between Budapest and Kyiv have been marked by recurring tensions in recent years. Hungary has repeatedly criticized Ukrainian attacks against the Druzhba oil pipeline, a key route for its energy supplies from Russia, and has raised concerns over the rights of the ethnic Hungarian minority in Ukraine’s Transcarpathian region.
At the same time, Hungary is strongly opposed to Ukraine’s EU accession process, citing the need for guarantees on the protection of its minorities, but also the negative impact Ukraine’s accession would have on the EU’s agriculture subsidy system.
High-level exchanges have remained strained, with both sides often trading accusations in public statements.
Despite these disputes, Hungary has provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine since the outbreak of the armed conflict in February 2022, opening its borders to refugees and even setting up a Ukrainian-language school for the refugee children.
The new academy will serve as a regional center for education, research, and collaboration on conservation practices. Its location at the southern gate of Akagera National Park will give students and professionals direct access to real-world ecosystems, allowing practical training alongside theoretical studies.
“The academy will be established at the southern gate of the park, positioning Rwanda as a regional conservation hub,” Eugene Mutangana, Head of the Conservation Department at the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) told The New Times.
The facility is expected to offer advanced training programs for conservation practitioners across Africa while creating opportunities for Rwandan park managers, rangers, and community leaders to develop specialized expertise to manage Rwanda’s protected areas.
The academy will be developed through a partnership with the African Parks Network, a non-profit conservation organization that co-manages several of Rwanda’s national parks.
A Cabinet meeting on September 15, 2025, approved the agreement, with the official signing scheduled for September 30, 2025.
Under the partnership, Rwanda will own 49 percent of the academy, while African Parks will hold the remaining stake.
Rwanda will contribute land and access to Akagera National Park for hands-on training.
“Our contribution includes the 8 hectares of land and granting students full-time access to Akagera National Park for their practical work,” Mutangana explained.
Following the signing, construction of the academy’s infrastructure and development of its academic systems are expected to take about one year.
The first cohort of students is projected to begin training in 2027.
The draft resolution, tabled by China and Russia, won four votes in favor and nine votes against, with two abstentions, failing to get the nine positive votes required for adoption.
If adopted, the draft resolution would have extended the nuclear deal between Iran and the six countries of Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, as well as Security Council Resolution 2231 that endorsed the deal, for six months, and would have prevented a “snapback” of UN sanctions against Iran.
Friday’s voting result was exactly the same as that on Sept. 19 on a draft resolution put forward by the Republic of Korea in its capacity as Security Council president for the month of September, which, if adopted, would have continued to provide sanctions relief for Iran.
Algeria, China, Pakistan and Russia voted in favor of Friday’s draft resolution. Guyana and the Republic of Korea abstained. The remaining nine members of the Security Council voted against it.
Britain, France and Germany — the three European countries in the Iran nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — claimed they triggered the snapback mechanism on Aug. 28 by notifying the Security Council of Tehran’s “non-performance.”
Under Resolution 2231, the UN sanctions in place before the resolution’s adoption would resume 30 days after the notification, unless the Security Council adopts a resolution to decide otherwise. The Sept. 19 draft resolution to that effect failed.
However, the legality of the three countries’ move has been questioned as it has skipped the Dispute Resolution Mechanism (DRM) provided for in the JCPOA and Resolution 2231.
Under the JCPOA and Resolution 2231, the DRM has 35 days to resolve the disagreement. A snapback can be triggered only after the DRM fails to resolve the issue.
Resolution 2231 expires on Oct. 18, 2025, after which time the Security Council would stop considering the Iran nuclear deal.
The national carrier announced the promotion on September 26, 2025, through its official social media channels, encouraging travellers to take advantage of the reduced fares.
“Enjoy 50% off flights across our network for travel until 30 June 2026. From safaris to cityscapes and beaches, the world is yours to explore at half the price,” the airline said.
The latest announcement follows a similar offer made in August, which had slashed fares by half for tickets purchased for travel through November 30, 2025. At the time, RwandAir said the deal applied to flights on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, highlighting options for beach getaways, city breaks, and spontaneous trips.
RwandAir currently operates flights to more than 23 destinations worldwide. In 2024, the airline carried over 1 million passengers and is targeting 1.2 million travellers in the 2025/26 fiscal year.
A year after claiming the junior rainbow jersey in Zurich, Finn delivered a masterclass of tactics and strength, sealing his second world title in as many years with a decisive late solo move.
The race started with high tempo, and before the first lap was even completed, an early three-man breakaway, including Michal Pomorski (Poland), Danylo Kozoriz (Ukraine), and Ramazan Yilmaz (Turkey), surged ahead, building a 24-second gap. But the peloton, strong and controlled, hunted them down methodically, with Kozoriz the last of the three to be reeled back in after 142 km.
Kigali’s searing heat and relentless climbs soon began to take their toll. Riders from the UAE, Thailand, Turkey, Seychelles, and Slovakia were among the first to drop out, and by the fourth lap, only 77 of the initial 121 starters remained in contention.
As the race moved into its middle stages, Belgium took the reins, ramping up the pace to force further splits. Riders like Germany’s Mauro Brenner struggled to keep up, while early attacks from Italy’s Pietro Mattio and Belgium’s Jasper Schoofs were neutralised by the chasing pack. The peloton grew thinner as the pressure mounted.
{{Spain’s Héctor Álvarez ignites the race
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With 62 km remaining, Spain’s Héctor Álvarez launched a bold solo attack that shook up the race. His move created immediate gaps, and although Belgium’s Jarno Widar tried to bridge the gap, Álvarez’s sustained effort shattered the group, and a select chase formed behind him. By 45 km to go, Álvarez had a small lead, joined by Finn and four others, but the pace continued to ramp up as the final laps loomed.
{{Finn makes his move
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As the lead group hit the Côte de Kimihurura climb, just 30 km from the finish, the race reached its tipping point. With perfect timing, Finn attacked, surging away from the others with precision and power. Only Switzerland’s Jan Huber could match him, and together they built a 47-second gap as they entered the final lap, while the chasers struggled to keep up.
Inside the last 10 km, however, the partnership between Finn and Huber began to unravel. With just 6.5 km to go, Finn attacked once again, leaving Huber behind and riding solo to victory.
The Italian crossed the line with a time of 3:57:27, arms raised in triumph, as the streets of Kigali erupted in celebration. Behind him, Huber held on for silver at +31 seconds, while Austria’s Marco Schrettl took bronze at +1:13.
{{A triumph for the ages
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Finn’s victory places him in rarefied company, joining the ranks of cycling legends like Greg LeMond, Remco Evenepoel, Mathieu van der Poel, and Matej Mohorič, who have won world titles across multiple age categories.
“It’s exactly one year, ’26. It’s like last year, it’s just unreal,” Finn remarked.
{{Kigali’s unforgettable roar
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Reflecting on the electric atmosphere at the finish, Finn said: “The last 500 meters, my ears were hurting from how loud the crowd was. People from different nations were cheering me on! The people here in Kigali are fantastic. It’s been a wonderful week, and I’ll remember it for the rest of my life.”
When it came to race tactics, Finn acknowledged the uncertainty of how things would play out: “We wanted to see what Belgium wanted to do at the start of the race. They kept it pretty controlled for the first half, so we tried to save some energy. Then it was just like all hell broke loose—just attacks everywhere. Luckily, I had some good legs. I thought I was suffering, but then I asked my teammates too. They were suffering, so it was a hard second part of the race.”
At just 18, the youngest in the decisive front group, Finn is already a two-time world champion. Looking ahead, he now has his sights set on joining the WorldTour in 2026 while continuing his development.
“When you’ve got this jersey, you’ve got to show it,” Finn said, already thinking of his next big challenge.
{{Rwanda’s riders put up a brave fight
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For the host nation, the race was a monumental challenge, but also a proud moment. Four Rwandan riders, Niyonkuru Samuel, Tuyizere Etienne, Ufitimana Shadrack, and Ruhumuriza Aime, took on the world’s best in front of a home crowd. However, the tough course proved too much for most. Only Niyonkuru Samuel finished the race, marking a hard-fought but ultimately proud showing for the Rwandan team.
{{Men’s Under 23 Road Race: Top 10 Results
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1. Lorenzo Mark Finn (ITA) — 3:57:27
2. Jan Huber (SUI) — 3:57:58 (+0:31)
3. Marco Schrettl (AUT) — 3:58:40 (+1:13)
4. Héctor Álvarez Martínez (ESP) — 3:59:05 (+1:38)
5. Mateusz Gajdulewicz (POL) — 3:59:09 (+1:42)
6. Pau Martí Soriano (ESP) — 3:59:49 (+2:22)
7. Victor Loulergue (FRA) — 3:59:49 (+2:22)
8. Robin Donzé (SUI) — 3:59:51 (+2:24)
9. Adria Pericas Capdevila (ESP) — 3:59:51 (+2:24)
10. Mateo Pablo Ramírez Torres (ECU) — 3:59:51 (+2:24)
The celebrated singer arrived in Kigali accompanied by his partner and manager, Maisha Madrugada Wirth.
The couple, who have been in a long-term relationship, are reportedly already planning their wedding, according to reliable sources. Nviiri and Maisha started dating after his split from Elodie Zone, a well-known Kenyan social media personality.
Fans in Kigali are in for a treat as Nviiri prepares to share the stage with fellow Kenyan artist Bensoul, who is expected to arrive on Saturday morning. They will be joined by top Rwandan acts, including Shemi, Kid from Kigali, and Angell Mutoni.
The singer is set to perform a lineup of his biggest hits, including Pombe Sigara, Niko Sawa featuring Bien, Nikita, Kitenge, and other fan favourites.
Before fully committing to music, Nviiri studied mechanical engineering and worked in the field, collaborating with his father, but his passion for music ultimately won out.
