2025 UCI Road World Championships Preview
2025 UCI Road World Championships Preview: Kigali Routes, Schedule & Key Riders
Event Overview
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships will be held in Kigali, Rwanda, from September 21 (Sunday) to September 28 (Sunday). This marks the first time the rainbow jersey will be contested on African soil, and the 98th edition of the Championships overall. A total of 21 rainbow jerseys will be awarded across individual time trials and road races.
Last year in Zurich, Belgium’s Lotte Kopecky defended her women’s road race title in dramatic fashion, while Tadej Pogačar soloed to victory in the men’s race. With Kopecky absent this year and stars like Mathieu van der Poel and Wout van Aert also missing, all eyes are on Pogačar and Remco Evenepoel in Kigali.
Key Information
- Dates: September 21–28, 2025
- Location: Kigali, Rwanda
- How to Watch: Tiz-Cycling, Cycling Today
Race Routes & Climbs
Individual Time Trials
The time trial routes feature the challenging Côte de Nyanza and the cobbled Côte de Kimihurura, with gradients up to 6.3%.
- Elite Women: 31.2 km, two ascents of Nyanza (2.5 km at 5.8% & 4.1 km at 3.1%), finishing on Kimihurura cobbles.
- Elite Men: 40.6 km, includes Nyanza (2.5 km at 5.8% & 6.6 km at 3.5%) and Côte de Peage (2 km at 6%).
- U23 Women: 22.6 km, single Nyanza ascent, finishing on Kimihurura.
- U23 Men: 31.2 km, identical to Elite Women’s route.
- Junior Women: 18.3 km, bypasses Nyanza but includes Kimihurura.
- Junior Men: 22.6 km, same as U23 Women’s route.
- Mixed Relay: 41.8 km (20.9 km x2), men then women, featuring Nyanza and Kimihurura.
Road Races
The road races center on a 13.6 km Kigali circuit featuring the Côte de Kigali Golf (0.8 km at 8.1%) and Kimihurura cobbles, with added climbs for the men’s elite race.
- U23 Women: 119.3 km (8 laps), 2,435 m elevation gain.
- Junior Men: 119.3 km (8 laps).
- U23 Men: 164.6 km (11 laps), 3,350 m elevation gain.
- Junior Women: 74 km (5 laps), 1,520 m elevation gain.
- Elite Women: 164.6 km (11 laps).
- Elite Men: 267.5 km, includes 9 laps plus extra western extension with Côte de Peage (1.8 km at 5.9%), Mont Kigali (5.9 km at 6.9%), and Mur de Kigali (0.4 km at 11%).
Riders to Watch
Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia) aims for back-to-back rainbow jerseys after his 100 km solo in Zurich, while Remco Evenepoel (Belgium), a two-time Olympic gold medalist, looks to deny him. With Kopecky and other stars absent, the championships are wide open in both the men’s and women’s fields.
