All eyes were on Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel as he stormed to a third straight world time trial title on Sunday. But tucked deeper in the results was a story that sent thousands of local fans home smiling: Shemu Nsengiyumva, a 22-year-old Rwandan who finished an impressive 25th.
Nsengiyumva had the honour of starting first in front of a roaring Kigali crowd. For a few minutes, he even sat in the hot seat as provisional leader. That moment didn’t last long, but the national time trial champion proved his ride was no fluke. His final time left him just six minutes and 55 seconds behind Evenepoel and ahead of seasoned pros including Ireland’s Ryan Mullen and Switzerland’s Mauro Schmid.
Behold our own Shemu Nsengiyumva, surging through the men’s elite time trial and crowning it with a brilliant performance. 🚴♂️
❤️❤️❤️🙌🙌🙌#Kigali2025 #UCIKigali2025 #UCIWorldChampionships2025 https://t.co/HD7DawoTVw pic.twitter.com/C4PyBywSdp— Isabelle Karake (@IsabelleKarake) September 21, 2025
The Rwandan rides for the small Java–Inovotec Pro Team and admitted the result surpassed his own expectations. “I gave the maximum,” he told Sporza. “Now I’m going to prepare for the road race, where I’ll also do my best in chasing the win.”
The crowd erupted with excitement as Shemu Nsengiyumva crossed the finish line at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali. What an unforgettable moment!#Kigali2025 #RidingNewHeights #Rwanda pic.twitter.com/PjVmH1mDkr
— NIYIZURUGERO Norbert (@Hodali77) September 21, 2025
Another Rwandan that impressed was Xaverine Nirere. The reigning Rwandan national time trial champion was also in the lead early on. Check out the reception for the 23-year-old cyclist who rides for Team Amani Women as she storms the course. She would ultimately finish 27th, in a race won by Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser.
Vibes are high as the Rwandan national champion Xaverine Nirere gets the Women’s elite time trial underway! 🇷🇼🎉 pic.twitter.com/9xwL9LZbKF
— Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) September 21, 2025
The men’s time trial also saw a dramatic third win for Evenepoel — including a moment that stunned most cycling fans. As the Belgian dominated the race, he ended up catching the seemingly unbeatable Tadej Pogačar. The Slovenian was humbled and would finish fourth. But seeing Evenepoel put two and a half minutes into the road world champion was something else.
Pogačar had…
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