Kigali Convention Center was filled with celebration and gratitude on Friday evening as Prime Minister Dr. Justin Nsengiyumva hosted a thank-you reception for everyone who played a role in making the 2025 UCI Road World Championships a success.
The event brought together government officials, organizers, volunteers, athletes, and members of the public whose efforts combined to deliver the first UCI Road World Championships ever held on African soil.
From September 21 to 28, Rwanda welcomed nearly 1,000 cyclists and thousands of fans, turning Kigali into a global stage for endurance, skill, and African hospitality.
In his remarks, the Prime Minister praised the spirit of unity and determination that made the event possible.
“Hosting the 2025 UCI Road World Championships was no small feat. It took discipline, coordination, and belief that we could do it. And Rwanda delivered, not just for itself, but for Africa. This wasn’t just a sporting event. It was a celebration. A showcase of our ambition, our capacity, and our hospitality,” he said.
Dr. Nsengiyumva also expressed gratitude to the fans whose enthusiasm filled Kigali’s streets and energized the competition. “The Fan Zone was electric, mwarakoze kuza,” he added, highlighting how the public’s passion turned the championship into a true national celebration.
The UCI Road World Championships tested the world’s best cyclists on Rwanda’s famously hilly terrain and high-altitude routes, but for Rwanda the victory was measured in successful organization and the pride of delivering a global sporting milestone.
During the championships, Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar defended his men’s elite road race title in dominant fashion, launching a long-range attack more than 100 km from the finish and riding solo to victory. Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel took silver and Ireland’s Ben Healy claimed bronze.
In the women’s elite road race, Magdeleine Vallières of Canada created history by winning her first world title, breaking away on the final climb to finish ahead of New Zealand’s Niamh Fisher-Black and Spain’s Mavi García.
The time trial events also saw standout performances with Switzerland’s Marlen Reusser finally claiming her first world championship ITT gold, finishing ahead of Dutch veterans Anna van der Breggen and Demi Vollering.
Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel dominated the men’s time trial, securing his third consecutive world title.
By hosting the reception, the Prime Minister underscored that Rwanda’s triumph was not just about sport, but about teamwork, resilience, and a nation’s ability to deliver on the world stage.
