Nicola Rutzou and Peter Maniaty
Rwanda is known as the ‘Land of a Thousand Hills’ and the organisers have served up courses that reflect this. They’re tough, really tough. These rainbows are most certainly for the pure climbers or, with a mighty helping of good luck, very strong punchers on a very good day. Sprinters need not apply. The Elite Women will tackle a 164km course with 3,350 metres of elevation spread across 11 laps of the Kigali Local Circuit. The Elite Men will tackle a 267km course with 5,475 metres of elevation with 15 laps, punctuated by a separate ascent of the 6km Mont Kigali (6.9% av) on the Extension Circuit in the middle of the race.
On paper, Kigali certainly looms as a race that will suit all the top GC contenders in both the men’s and women’s events, so expect climber-heavy squads. And although the terrain is not his forte, Africa’s most accomplished male professional rider, Biniam Girmay, will be on the start line in Kigali.
In the women’s race, five-time African Champion Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) and 2025 Tour de France Femmes yellow jersey wearer Kim Le Court (Mauritius) will lead the African charge. Favourites include Tour de France Femmes GC winner Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (France) and Demi Vollering (Netherlands), both of whom will be supported by strong teams. Defending champion Lotte Kopecky (Belgium) will not be there.
Notably, the 2025 UCI Road World Championships will also be the first to see a separate Under 23 race for the women – a long-awaited change that could have a genuine bearing on the style of racing in both the Under 23 and Elite Women’s races.
The favourite for the men’s elite road race is undoubtedly Tadej Pogačar (Slovenia), who will be supported by countryman Primož Roglič. Other high-profile riders who could fill out the podium include Remco Evenepoel (Belgium), Tom Pidcock (Great Britain) and Richard Carapaz (Ecuador). There is also a long list of famous names who won’t be there, including Jonas Vingegaard (Denmark), Wout van Aert (Belgium) and Mathieu van der Poel (Netherlands).
Sunday, 21 September 2025
Women’s Elite Individual Time Trial
Starts: 10.10 am (6.10 pm AEST)
Distance: 31.2 km
Elevation: 460 m
Australian riders: Brodie Chapman
Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial
Starts: 1.45 pm (9.45 pm AEST)
Distance: 40.6 km
Elevation: 680 m
Australian riders: Luke Plapp, Jay Vine
Monday, 22 September 2025
Women’s U23 Individual Time Trial
Starts: 10.35 am (6.35 pm AEST)
Distance: 22.6 km
Elevation: 350 m
Australian riders: Felicity Wilson-Haffenden, Alli Anderson
Men’s U23 Individual Time Trial
Starts: 1.35 pm (9.35 pm AEST)
Distance: 31.2 km
Elevation: 460m
Australian riders: Zac Marriage, Hamish McKenzie
Tuesday, 23 September 2025
Women’s Junior Individual Time Trial
Starts: 10.45 am (6.45 pm AEST)
Distance: 18.3 km
Elevation: 225m
Australian riders: Hannah Gianatti, Tully Schweitzer
Men’s Junior Individual Time Trial
Starts: 2.00 pm (10.00 pm AEST)
Distance: 22.6 km
Elevation: 350 m
Australian riders: Max Goold, Lucas Stevenson
Wednesday, 24 September 2025
Team Time Trial Mixed Relay
Starts: 12.30 pm (8.30 pm AEST)
Distance: 41.8km
Elevation: 740 m
Australian riders: Brodie Chapman, Michael Matthews, Jay Vine, Luke Plapp, Lauretta Hanson and Amanda Spratt.
Thursday, 25 September 2025
Women’s U23 Road Race (8 x Local circuit)
Starts: 1.05 pm (9.05 pm AEST)
Distance: 119.3 km
Elevation: 2,435 m
Australian riders: Talia Appleton, Alli Anderson, Mackenzie Coupland and Felicity Wilson-Haffenden.
Friday, 26 September 2025
Men’s Junior Road Race (8 x Local circuit)
Starts: 8.00 am (4.00 pm AEST)
Distance: 119.3 km
Elevation: 2,435 m
Australian riders: Max Goold, Alexander Hewes, Fletcher Medway and Lucas Stevenson.
Men’s U23 Road Race (11 x Local circuit)
Starts: 12.00 pm (8.00 pm AEST)
Distance: 164.6 km
Elevation: 3,350 m
Australian riders: Matthew Greenwood, Zac Marriage and Hamish McKenzie.
Saturday, 27 September 2025
Women’s Junior Road Race (5 x Local circuit)
Starts: 08.20 am (4.20 pm AEST)
Distance: 74km
Elevation: 1,520 m
Australian riders: Hannah Gianatti, Neve Parslow and Tully Schweitzer.
Women’s Elite Road Race (11 x Local circuit)
Starts: 12.05 pm (8.05 pm AEST)
Distance: 164.6 km
Elevation: 3,350 m
Australian riders: Brodie Chapman, Lauretta Hanson, Alexandra Manly, Ruby Roseman-Gannon and Amanda Spratt.
Sunday, 28 September 2025
Men’s Elite Road Race (9 x circuit) + (1 x Extension) + (6 x circuit)
Starts: 9.45 am (5.45 pm AEST)
Distance: 267.5 km
Elevation: 5,475 m
Australian riders: Chris Hamilton, Chris Harper, Jai Hindley, Michael Matthews, Luke Plapp, Callum Scotson, Michael Storer and Jay Vine.
Stan Sport will have full coverage, including the junior and under-23 races.
Peter Maniaty
Peter Maniaty - Peter is Bicycling Australia’s senior journalist, and highly respected in the world of cycling. From bike reviews, to destination features and nitty gritty opinion pieces, he’s a gun writer.
