The championships, held in Rwanda from September 21 to 28, 2025, marked the first time the prestigious cycling competition took place on the African continent.
Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar claimed the elite men’s road race title, followed by Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel in second place and Ireland’s Ben Healy in third.
Following the week-long race, President Kagame took to X to applaud everyone involved in the event’s success.
“Rwanda is proud to have hosted this historic UCI Road World Championships. I congratulate all the riders who competed across our capital city for their remarkable achievements and resilience.
“My sincere appreciation to my friend, David Lappartient [UCI President] , the UCI team, our partners, the security organs who kept the race route secure and the people of Rwanda whose energy and support made #Kigali2025 [the race] truly unforgettable,” he said.
The men’s road race started with 165 riders but only 30 managed to finish. None of the six Rwandan cyclists completed the challenging race.
According to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), nearly one million fans lined the streets to watch the elite men’s road race finale in Kigali.
UCI President David Lappartient also praised the event’s success on social media, expressing how the global cycling community was deeply moved by Rwanda’s passion and organization.
Pogačar, who successfully defended his world road race title, said the competition in Rwanda stood out for its challenging but well-organised ourse compared to his experience in Australia.
The 2026 UCI Road World Championships are scheduled to take place in Montreal, Canada.
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