The 2025 Cycling World Championships kicked off in Rwanda (specifically in its capital, Kigali), with great expectations as it is the first time an event of this magnitude takes place on the African continent.
In the women’s time trial, Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser finally managed to step onto the top of the podium after several close calls: she won the race with a time of 43:09.34 over a 31.2 km course. In second place came Dutch rider Anna van der Breggen, nearly 52 seconds behind, while the third step of the podium went to her compatriot Demi Vollering, confirming the dominance of Dutch cyclists on the women’s scene.
In the men’s event, the winner was Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, who claimed his third consecutive time trial world title (adding to the Olympic gold he won last year in Paris), in utterly dominant fashion. His time was 49:46.03 over the 40.6 km route. Australian Jay Vine of UAE Team Emirates was one of the surprises of the day, taking silver more than a minute behind, while bronze went to fellow Belgian Ilan van Wilder. The big favorite, Tadej Pogačar, finished fourth, just off the podium, after being dramatically overtaken on course—a historic image for cycling.
Elite Women’s Road Race: course and favorites
The women’s road race will be held on Saturday, September 27, covering 164.6 kilometers with a total elevation gain of 3,350 meters. The route consists of eleven laps of the Kigali circuit, featuring two main climbs: the Côte de Kigali Golf (800 meters at 8%) and the Côte de Kimihurura (1.3 km of cobbles at 6.4%), just before the final kilometers. The altitude, close to 1,600 meters, promises to add an extra layer of difficulty.
Among the favorites, Reusser herself comes in strengthened by her time trial victory and could extend her golden streak on the road. The Dutch riders will once again be strong contenders, with Demi Vollering, a specialist in mountainous races, and the experienced Anna van der Breggen, who has already proven her tactical prowess. France’s Pauline Ferrand-Prévot emerges as another natural candidate for this explosive terrain after her historic win at last summer’s Tour de France Femmes, while riders such as Poland’s Katarzyna Niewiadoma, Juliette Labous, and Anna Henderson could take advantage of the cobbled sections of Kimihurura to launch surprise attacks.
Men’s Race: an epic challenge
The elite men’s road race will be one of the toughest World Championships in recent memory: 267.5 kilometers with 5,475 meters of total elevation gain. After nine initial laps of Kigali’s urban circuit, the race heads out into a longer loop that includes Mount Kigali (6 km at 6.9%) and the iconic Wall of Kigali, 400 meters of cobblestones at 11%. With such a profile and at this altitude, wear and tear are guaranteed, and only the most complete climbers will reach the decisive part of the race with real chances.
In this scenario, the big favorite is Tadej Pogačar, arriving hungry for revenge after missing the podium in the time trial. The Slovenian combines power, endurance, and a winning instinct perfectly suited to this terrain, though his form after the time trial and an exhausting Tour de France leaves some uncertainty. On the other hand, Remco Evenepoel will try to extend his winning streak; although more of a rouleur, he has already shown he can respond on short climbs and make the most of power sections. Young talents like Spain’s Juan Ayuso, who could surprise with his explosive climbing skills, also deserve attention, as do riders specialized in short, steep climbs such as Tom Pidcock and Ben Healy, both capable of decisive moves on the final cobbled ramps.
The outcome of the race may hinge on a combination of factors: the cumulative toll of the short climbs, the precise moment someone dares to attack on the Wall of Kigali or in Kimihurura, and the riders’ ability to handle both altitude and the African heat. Furthermore, the fact that several national teams will compete with smaller squads than in European-hosted Worlds could open the door to unexpected tactical moves and long-range ambushes. In any case, this promises to be one of the most thrilling World Championships in recent years, and at Cyclingoo we’ll bring you every detail.