The 2025 UCI Road World Championships opened in Kigali with a breathtaking Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial that confirmed Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel as the undisputed master of the discipline.
On Sunday, September 21, the defending champion powered through the demanding 40.6-kilometre course to secure his third consecutive ITT world title, extending a reign that began in Glasgow in 2023 and continued in Zurich in 2024.
Evenepoel was in commanding form from the start, flying past Slovenian superstar Tadej Pogačar on the cobbled climb in Kimihurura and never looking back. He crossed the finish line at the Kigali Convention Centre in a time of 49 minutes and 6 seconds, a result that placed him well ahead of the rest of the field.
Australia’s Jay Vine finished second, 1 minute and 15 seconds behind, while Belgian compatriot Ilan Van Wilder claimed a surprise bronze medal in 52:22 on what was his first World Championship ITT appearance.
Pogačar, ranked number one in the world and winner of the 2024 World Road Race title, struggled to find rhythm on Kigali’s sharp climbs and technical streets. Despite high expectations, he missed the podium, coming in fourth with 52:23, trailing Evenepoel by two minutes and 37 seconds.
The Slovenian will have another chance at glory when he lines up for the men’s road race on Sunday, September 28, a punishing 267.5-kilometre showdown expected to draw massive crowds across Rwanda’s capital.
For the host nation, Rwanda’s riders provided moments of pride and resilience. Nsengiyumva Shemu, the first man to start the race, initially set the benchmark and even briefly led the standings.
He eventually placed 25th overall, 6 minutes and 55 seconds behind the winner. His compatriot Moïse Mugisha, who has twice won the national ITT title and finished runner-up at the African Championships in 2023, finished 31st in the field of 54 riders.
At the tail end of the competition, South Sudan’s Edward Jalal completed the course in last place, more than 43 minutes adrift. The spectacle in Kigali added to the growing prestige of African cycling, coming just seven months after the successful Tour du Rwanda.
Fans gathered in and around the Kigali Convention Centre to witness the world’s best on Rwandan roads, and they were rewarded with a historic display of endurance and strategy.
Evenepoel’s victory, his third in as many years, underscored not only his dominance but also Belgium’s growing strength in world cycling, with Van Wilder’s bronze medal marking a double podium for the nation.
On Monday, September 22, the focus shifts to the Under-23 ITT events. Rwanda will again feature prominently, with Etienne Tuyizere and Samuel Niyonkuru taking on the 31.2-kilometre men’s course, while Claudette Nyirarukundo and Jazilla Mwamikazi will represent the country in the women’s 22.6-kilometre race.
As Kigali hosts this landmark edition of the UCI Road World Championships, the city has already witnessed a race that will be remembered for years to come. A masterclass from Remco Evenepoel, who once again proved that when it comes to the race against the clock, he is in a class of his own.
Top 3 – Men’s Elite ITT
- Remco Evenepoel (Belgium) – 49’06”
- Jay Vine (Australia) – +1’15”
- Ilan Van Wilder (Belgium) – +2’36”
