Both gold and silver went to women who had dominated the junior road races the previous year. Gery finished fifth back then, Chladoňová took bronze in Zurich. In Kigali, both were the strongest and the riders who livened up the race, which generally only really picked up speed late on, with attacks. The U23 women had 119 kilometres to cover, spread over eight laps. Although the peloton became smaller with each lap, the medals were only decided on the final climb.
Strong French team performance is rewarded
Marion Bunel, another Frenchwoman, made the decisive attack in the cobblestone section that was already familiar from the time trial. Only Gery and Chladoňová, who had already taken silver in the time trial, were able to follow her. Bunel then sacrificed herself for her compatriot and was overtaken on the finish line by Blasi and the Italian Eleonora Ciabocco, who finished fifth. Isabella Holmgren from Canada, who started the race as one of the top favourites alongside Cat Ferguson (Great Britain), who had already been left behind in the middle of the race, finished sixth.
The German team, with Riedmann, Justyna Czapla and Selma Lantzsch, put in a strong performance for a long time. At the end of the penultimate lap, Germany was the only nation still fully represented in the leading group with three riders. Czapla finished 16th, with Lantzsch two places behind. Only 24 women finished the race.
"It's incredible. It's been a long wait, but it's fantastic. It was a masterstroke by the team. There were only three of us, but we managed the race perfectly. We had three very strong girls and Marion was simply incredible at the finish," said Gery after her victory. "I was together with Viktória twice. She attacked twice and I was with her. The other girls were stronger than me in the sprint, so I wanted to stay with her to try and win the race. The last two laps were a bit difficult. I wasn't confident, but I had confidence in my team."
World Championship 2025 - Road race U23 women results
World Championships WU - Road Race: Kigali - Kigali
World Championships WU - Road Race 2025: World Championships WU - Road Race, Kigali - Kigali
| Rnk. | Riders | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | France | 03:24:26 |
| 2 | Slovakia | +00:00:02 |
| 3 | Spain | +00:00:12 |
| 4 | Italy | +00:00:12 |
| 5 | France | +00:00:12 |
| 6 | Canada | +00:00:17 |
How the U23 Women's World Championship Road Race 2025 went
86 riders had started the race. However, the field thinned out extremely quickly on the difficult course. There were no attacks in the first half of the race - a pure elimination race made sure of that. After four of eight laps, there were barely 30 riders left in the peloton.
All three Germans were still there. Already in serious trouble, however: Co-favourite Cat Ferguson. When the double from Cote de Kigali Golf and Cote de Kimihurura went up for the fourth time, the Briton surprisingly had to let go. She initially fought her way back. Nevertheless, it was the first sign and confirmation that Isabella Holmgren had chosen exactly the right tactics with her uphill pace dictation.
One lap later, the pace picked up again. Julia Kopecky (Czech Republic) and Gery rode from the front and sorted themselves out again. Again it was too much for Ferguson, who was unable to return this time. The group was also halved again. Julie Bego (France) then attacked at the top. Riedmann jumped behind and neutralised the attack. Apart from Germany, France was the only nation still represented in the top 20.
The pace is slowed down again and again
One lap later, it remained quiet on the climbs. However, Bego attacked again at the start of the next lap. Czapla went with her, but the group of four riders did not get too far. However, the race was reopened. The next to attack was Malwina Mul from Poland. The peloton did not react, so she quickly gained three quarters of a minute.
When it came to the penultimate climb, Chladoňová and Gery rode to the front, while the Polish rider fell back. However, part of the group rode back from behind. 14 riders went into the final lap together. However, the pace at the front was slowed, allowing another group to catch up from behind.
Bunel launches a decisive attack
The Swede Stina Kagevi took advantage of the standstill and quickly gained half a minute. Seven kilometres before the end it was 50 seconds. In the Cote de Kigali Golf it was again Chladoňová who attacked, again Gery was with her. Blasi and Holmgren closed the gap. At the crest they were with Kagevi. A group of six around Riedmann made it back to the front in time for the final climb.
However, the German was the first to run into problems on the cobbles. 900 metres before the crest of the Cote de Kimihurura, Bunel stepped on the gas. Chladoňová and Gery followed suit - behind them the gap opened up. The medals seemed to be taken. Then Bunel got in front of the duo and set the pace. When she went out, Chladoňová rode from the front, but then had to let Gery sprint past her. Gery was crowned the new world champion, Chladoňová took silver. Bunel, who had sacrificed herself for her compatriot, was robbed of bronze by Blasi at the finish line.
