Just two weeks after the official announcement of the 2025 UCI Road World Championship, scheduled to take place in Kigali from September 21-28, at the UCI Congress in Zurich, Switzerland, UCI President David Lappartient visited Kigali to assess the city’s readiness.
During his visit, Lappartient met with Rwandan Sports Minister Richard Nyirishema and Ferwacy President Samson Ndayishimiye, touring various sections of the race route, including the BK Arena, which will serve as the starting point for the Time Trial.
In an exclusive interview with The New Times, Lappartient discussed Kigali’s preparedness and the broader significance of this global cycling event for Africa.
Excerpts:
The 2025 World Road Championship come to Rwanda in nearly 12 months’ time. What was/ were your observation(s) from your visit?
It’s less than one year to go. I had the opportunity to meet with the Minister of Sports and (Ferwacy president) Samson, at Zurich World Championship last month, and at the UCI Congress when they made an official presentation about the Kigali 2025.
I now wanted to come here to discuss about the organization and visit some infrastructures.
That will be the first time ever for us to have the start for the individual time trial in an arena. That’s something unique. I think it’s great because it will be the first time in Rwanda, and Africa, after 125 years of the UCI.
The roads, of course, are already vetted so I know the roads will be perfect.
You have beautiful and large roads but it will be a really demanding and very difficult World Championship.
It was a hard race this year where there was 4300 metres’ elevation. Next year, there is 5500 metres, which is 1000 more metres. So that will be a really tough one.
Do you think Kigali will be ready for the Championship within the next 12 months?
For sure, Kigali will be ready and, as I said, the city will even bring probably more with the spirit you will have. For a lot of young people or for a lot of athletes, it will be the first time, not only in Rwanda, but in Africa. It’s great that they will also discover the best from Africa here.
So Pogacar said ‘I want to go’. Jonas Vingegaard, I think he has to go too…that could be a revenge of Tour de France. So, you can have the top riders to ride this race.
I can really tell you that our national federations, our members can’t wait to witness Kigali 2025.
The Kigali municipality has everything. You have large roads which are clearly in really good shape, which is great. You have hotel accommodations at the highest level. You have conference centers that will be hosting the UCI Congress and the elections.
We are on time, so I’m relaxed.
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