Overview

• The UCI Road World Championships are being staged in Kigali, the event’s first visit to Africa in its 103-year history.
• A record 36 African nations are represented, with roughly one-third of the more than 700 riders coming from the continent, especially in junior and U23 fields.
• Many African competitors say limited access to time-trial bikes and high-end gear hinders parity, illustrated by a Malian U23 rider racing a standard road bike against winner Jakob Soderqvist.
• Host investment has bolstered Rwanda’s squad, with the national selector reporting 32 new bikes procured for the team.
• The UCI bills Kigali’s routes as exceptionally demanding, global stars like Tadej Pogacar and Remco Evenepoel are competing, and opening time trials have already produced titles for Evenepoel and Marlen Reusser.