Rainbows in Rwanda: The 2025 Road World Champs
Tornanti C.C.
The 2025 UCI Road World Championships was an event for the history books, marking the first time in its more-than-100-year history that this elite series has been held on African soil. Centered around the Rwandan capital of Kigali, the new location offered a fresh fanbase the chance to experience the thrill of one of cycling’s most exciting competitions up close—while giving the nation’s top riders the chanceto race on more-familiar roads.
Elevation, Gradients, and Individual Time Trials
Unsurprisingly for a country nicknamed “The Land of 1,000 Hills,” those roads came with plenty of climbing, with terrain playing major role in rider strategy across practically every race.
The week-long Championships opened with the Elite Women’s Time Trial, which unfolded on a 31.2-kilometer course featuring several steep climbs, including a particularly punchy cobbled section known as Kimihurura Hill. Beyond the gradients, overall elevation also added to the difficulty, with Kigali sitting at nearly 1,600 meters above sea level.
The race began with a familiar name Xaverine Nirere of Team Amani—first out of the gate, as one by one local an international riders alike took on the challenging women’s course. On sun-soaked roads, it was another fizik rider who would ultimately prove victorious.
Displaying strength, form, and the determination built from numerous podium finishes just outside the top spot, Marlen Reusser earned her first-ever individual World Championship title with an official time of 43 minutes, 9 seconds to take home the rainbow jersey.
“I still find it hard to believe. I’ve tried so many times that it feels like a dream come true. It’s been an enormous effort and I’m still taking it in. It was very tough, but I did it and I’m immensely happy.”
Another National First: Elite Women’s Road Race
If hills played a part in the Individual Time Trial, they defined the Elite Women’s Road Race. Here, 104 of the world’s top riders tackled 11 laps around the city’s 15.2 kilometer circuit—totaling 164.6 kilometers with 3,350 meters of elevation gained. Working together as national teams, the opening laps saw riders testing their fellow competitors as well as their own legs against the route’s two primary climbs.
An early breakaway from Austrian rider Carina Schrempf kept the peloton’s pace high, as riders collectively pushed to close a notable gap. By midway through the race, Schrempf’s lead had shrunk, with familiar teams taking turns on the attack. For both commentators and spectators, it seemed the favorite nations heading into the race remained the most likely contenders for the coveted rainbow jersey.
As the laps ticked by, however, a solo escape became a head-to-head matchup, then a small group of challengers raising the pace in the final two spins around the circuit. Hitting the last cobbled climb, Canadian rider Magdeleine Vallieres made the decisive move, powering ahead in the final 2 kilometers to earn herself and her country their first ever World Championship win.
“The girls believed in me, so I believed in myself.
I didn’t want to have any regrets — and I don’t.”
A Solo Escape, A Repeat Win: Elite Men’s Road Race
While an unexpected name claimed victory in the Elite Women’s Road Race, it was perhaps the most-anticipated rider who made history for the men.
Hot off his fourth Tour de France win, Tadej Pogačar rolled across the starting line in Kigali with high hopes of defending the World Champion title he’d won in Zurich last September.
He’d have his work cut out for him: the men’s course consisted of 15 laps around the hilly capital circuit, with a 42.5-kilometer extension mid-race to take in several iconic local climbs. In total, riders faced 267 kilometers and 5,475 meters of elevation gain—considered by many to be toughest World Championships course on record.
The race got off to a fast start through the first few laps, with a handful of breakaway riders struggling to expand a slim lead over the persistent peloton.
Any lingering doubts that Pogačar’s form in the Time Trial was an indicator of how he’d fare in the Road Race were quickly dispelled on the steep slopes of Mont Kigali. Nearing the summit, he strategically raised the tempo, dropping rival Remco Evenepoel and setting the tone for the remainder of the race.
From three riders down to two, then one, Tadej Pogačar did what he does best—heading into the final laps solo for the last 66 kilometers, as the contest shifted to the two remaining podium spots.
“I was left alone quite early and going solo like last year and fighting myself, so I was happy I made it. It was so hard in the few final laps... first you doubt a bit, but you have to push through.”
Crossing the finish line in front of a new crowd—but in familiar standalone fashion—Tadej Pogačar successfully defended his rainbow jersey to don the title of back-to-back World Champion.
And as he’s done throughout this season, Pogačar pedaled to victory aboard his custom One-to-One fizik saddle, marking yet another Elite World Championship win by a fizik rider in Rwanda.
Congratulations to all our newly crowned World Champions, including Women’s Elite TT winner Marlen Reusser, Women’s Elite Road Race winner Magdeleine Vallieres, Men’s Elite Road Race Winner Tadej Pogačar, as well as Paula Ostiz, our youngest winner of the Junior Women’s Time Trial. You have all truly earned your rainbow stripes—wear them with pride.
