There is no disputing that the 2025 UCI Road World Championships will be a landmark moment in cycling, held for the first time on African soil from September 21-28 in Rwanda’s capital city of Kigali. Known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’ because of its stunning mountainous backdrop, it is no surprise that this will also be one of the toughest races in the event’s centennial history.
The 3,350 metres of elevation gain in the elite women’s 164.4km race, held on city circuits, and the 5,475 metres in the elite men’s 267.5km race, which includes a longer extension loop, feature cumulative ascents, cobblestone climbs, and an altitude of between 1,493 and 1,771 metres at their highest points.
A race of attrition
The courses are expected to favour the powerful climbers, and neither the elite women’s nor elite men’s race is expected to be an open affair, but rather could end up coming down to varying degrees of selection.
The elite women’s race will feature 11 laps of a 15.1km city circuit for a total of 164.4km and 3,350 metres of elevation gain, with its highest point at 1,493 metres. There are two climbs on the circuit: the Côte de Kigali Golf climb, 800m at 8.1% halfway around the local circuit, and the decisive Côte de Kimihurura climb, 1.3km at 6.3% on the circuit close to the finish, which is cobbled.
A deeper dive into the course design shows a Classics-style women’s race – think along the lines of GP de Plouay, Amstel Gold Race and possibly even the Richmond World Championships (but at altitude).
“I like it. It’s really nice. It’s the type of route that suits the type of rider that I am; explosive and cumulative, so I liked it. I was happy when I saw it,” said Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who will represent South Africa in the elite women’s race and previewed both courses during a training camp last November.
“It’s…
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