There was great euphoria when the UCI Congress declared Rwanda as the host country for the 2025 Road World Championships in September 2021. UCI President David Lappartient spoke of a historic event, the first World Cycling Championships on the African continent in the more than 100-year history of the world cycling organisation. And even now, many connoisseurs of African cycling are still full of anticipation for the event. "I think it will be simply unique, especially with the crowds and the enthusiasm. A sporting event in a country like this. I mean, when does something like this happen?" exclaims Jens Zemke, national coach of German Cycling, in an interview with TOUR. Zemke was the sporting director of the African racing team MTN-Qhubeka for several years and has worked a lot with professionals from Africa.
Adrien Niyonshuti was also part of the squad at the time. He was the first professional cyclist from Rwanda and also took part in the Olympic Games. After his active career, he set up a cycling academy in Rwanda. However, due to disputes with the local association, he moved his training centre to Benin after the World Championships of all places. Nevertheless, he is now returning to his home country full of expectations with Benin's national team. "It's simply a great opportunity for the African continent," he enthuses. "I also think Rwanda will show that it can organise a sporting event like this. And perhaps other African countries will come along later, Morocco or Algeria for example, or even Benin," he says, looking to the future.
From a purely sporting and economic point of view, Rwanda is indeed an interesting choice. The country has developed well economically and in terms of infrastructure since the genocide in 1994. The economy is growing robustly, at 8.4 per cent last year according to the World Bank. And Paul Kagame, who once ended the genocide as a militia leader and has now been president for 25 years, has long used sport as a vehicle for international recognition. In football, with sponsorship from FC Arsenal, Paris St Germain and Bayern Munich, among others. In 2023, Rwanda hosted the FIFA Congress, including a handshake between Kagame and FIFA boss Gianni Infantino. Kagame also recently endeavoured to organise a Formula 1 race on a track right next to Kigali airport. And last year, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Sport declared that Rwanda was aiming to organise the Olympic Games and World Cup in football.
Great cycling culture - but different
Cycling has a special tradition in Rwanda. Time and again, young men can be seen transporting people and goods on heavy single-wheelers as bicycle taxis. The Tour de Rwanda, which has been held annually since 2001, is a magnet for spectators. And the 1,000 kilometre Race Around Rwanda is very popular with the international bikepacking scene.
Nevertheless, the path to cycling as a competitive sport remains difficult. Pedicab drivers do not immediately become competitive athletes. "The muscles are developed quite differently due to the work with the heavy cargo bikes. You also first have to teach young riders how to handle the gears, how to eat and how to train. They often don't have the patience for this and drop out early," Niyonshuti has observed.
Overall, Africa's cycling is also stagnating in international comparison. Apart from superstar Biniam Girmay, who won the green jersey in last year's Tour de France, nobody has really risen to the top, despite a large reservoir of talent. Niyonshuti blames this on infrastructural deficiencies, a lack of money and, above all, a rather meagre competition calendar. Africa expert Jens Zemke also sees the youth craze that has been rampant for several years as a cause: "It's now a fad that 14 to 16-year-olds are being scouted. They are then observed and promoted in the various junior teams, join the development teams at 19 with the prospect of turning professional two years later or even riding a professional programme at the age of 19 or 20." However, it is mainly European riders who benefit from this programme. Most talent scouts don't come to Africa because of the greater effort involved, Zemke has observed. Only time will tell whether the branch of the UCI World Cycling Centre that opened in Rwanda this year will be able to change this.
High qualification hurdles
The UCI's qualification mode also contributes to the fact that only a few participants from African countries will be able to start, at least in the men's road race. Host nation Rwanda has been allocated six starting places, as has Eritrea in 19th place in the national rankings. Because African champion Henok Mulubrhan also comes from Eritrea, Africa's number one cycling nation can even field seven riders. Otherwise, only Algeria, South Africa and Mauritius have each secured a starting place via the national ranking.
For Eritrea, it is uncertain whether superstar Biniam Girmay will even make it to the race. "Of course, the World Championships are a milestone for African cycling. But the course is not particularly suitable for African riders. And I myself don't know whether I will even take part, because the course is beyond my capabilities," said the Eritrean. At best, Niyonshuti believes that former champion Merhawi Kudus is capable of finishing in the top ten.
Stars do without
However, the European riders don't seem particularly keen on the World Championships either. Tour runner-up Jonas Vingegaard and Tour bronze medallist Florian Lipowitz have already declared their withdrawal. Denmark and the Netherlands are only coming with a skeleton team, leaving the young riders at home. "We're coming without our U19 and U23 squads. It just doesn't make financial sense, it would cost us an extra 200,000 euros," Morten Bennekou, Head of Performance at the Danish federation, told TOUR on enquiry. Logistical challenges such as hiring vehicles and the necessary vaccinations also contribute to the decision not to take part.
War? That still exists
However, nobody seems to want to stay away for political reasons. In February, the European Parliament demanded that the World Cup be withdrawn if Rwanda did not stop its involvement in the war in the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Kagame then at least made himself comfortable at the negotiating table. "But the peace process in Doha has stalled. The fighting continues, including from the Rwandan-backed militia M23. The UN recently reported a massacre of 319 people in eastern Congo," reports British Africa specialist Michela Wrong. At the Kanombe military cemetery, not far from the World Cup circuit, you can see how the number of graves has increased dramatically in recent months. "These are Rwandan soldiers who died in the Congo," explains Wrong. Rwanda is therefore not a host on the road to peace. And persecution is also on the rise in his own country. Kagame's long-time political rival Victoire Ingabire was once again sent to prison just in time for the World Cup. The charge: preparing an uprising. The most important argument in favour of the arrest: Ingabire is said to have read the book "Blueprint for Revolution" with supporters. In it, author Srda Popovic presents methods of peaceful resistance. Anyone travelling to Rwanda should therefore be careful what books they bring with them.
