Overview

• Women’s road race runs Saturday over 11 laps for 164.6 km and roughly 3,350 meters of climbing, with France labeled the favorite on paper and Pauline Ferrand-Prévot targeting a second road rainbow jersey.
• Riders cite altitude, heat, humidity and pollution as preparation hurdles, though Ferrand-Prévot says the punchy circuit suits her after an altitude camp.
• Sunday’s men’s race covers 267.5 km with about 5,475 meters of ascent, featuring Mont Kigali and the cobbled Kigali Wall, with Tadej Pogacar seeking redemption after the time trial and Remco Evenepoel chasing a rare TT–road double.
• Organizers point to record African involvement with 36 nations represented and roughly a third of the 700 riders from the continent, supported by on-site junior and under-23 camps.
• Human Rights Watch and other observers question Rwanda’s human-rights record and regional security context as the championships unfold in Kigali.