The Minister of Sports, Nelly Mukazayire, has confirmed that Rwanda is fully prepared to host the 2025 World Cycling Championship in September, and that the national cycling race has been organized to match the standards of such prestigious global events. She made the announcement on Sunday, March 2, 2025, following the conclusion of an international cycling competition held in Rwanda.
She mentioned, “Representatives from UCI told us everything is on track, and they were impressed by our level of preparation. We’ve organized everything in line with international practices, which indicates that we are ready.”
Mukazayire also pointed out that the event’s weather challenges, including heavy rain, provided valuable lessons for future preparations, especially for the World Championship in September. She noted, “These are the lessons we will take forward, and we plan to strengthen our preparations as we get closer to hosting the global event in September.”
The Ministry of Sports further emphasized that Rwanda’s goal is not just to host international events but also to develop the capacity of its athletes and teams, enabling them to compete and win on the global stage.
She highlighted that the Ministry, in collaboration with FERWACY and local athletes, had successfully prepared for the Tour du Rwanda, a key international race. The race included new routes, which were used to showcase Rwanda’s readiness for the World Championship in September.
The Ministry stated that the event went smoothly across all locations and in terms of competition. A total of 70 riders from 20 countries participated in the event, demonstrating the growing international recognition of the Tour du Rwanda.
“Tour du Rwanda is raising its profile, which aligns with our objectives,” Mukazayire said. “Our team was well-prepared, had sufficient time to train, and received new equipment. They showed great performance by finishing in the top 10, though we had hoped for even better results. We see this as an opportunity to support cycling, to show that we are capable of hosting international events, and to demonstrate to the world that Rwanda is ready to welcome global sports and athletes.”
French cyclist Fabien Doubey, representing Total Energies, emerged as the winner of the 2025 Tour du Rwanda, held for the 17th time. The race featured six stages, though the final stage was halted due to heavy rain in Kigali.
The 2025 Tour du Rwanda began with 69 cyclists, and by the end, 64 remained. The riders started from the Kigali Convention Centre, cycling through various parts of the capital city.
