Day two of the 2025 UCI road world championships in Kigali delivered a mix of history, heartbreak, and breakthrough performances as the Women’s under-23 riders took to the road in Individual Time Trials (ITT) from BK arena to the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC).
The morning belonged to the Women’s U23 field, covering 22.6 km across Kigali’s challenging course. Rwanda was represented by Claudette Nyirarukundo and Martha Ntakirutimana, both making their first appearances at the world championships.
Nyirarukundo, starting first, clocked 37 minutes 14 seconds, briefly holding the hot seat before being overtaken by stronger times.
Ntakirutimana, who set off at 10:47 a.m., crossed the line in 36 minutes 27 seconds, provisionally ranking 16th before settling into 27th place overall. Nyirarukundo finished 31st. Both young riders will return on Thursday for the women’s road race.
Their performances were cheered passionately along the route, particularly in Nyanza, where Nyirarukundo received thunderous support from fans. It was a symbolic moment for the 21-year-old, who had not raced in Rwanda for two years due to documentation issues.
Bäckstedt claims gold in style
The standout of the morning was Zoe Bäckstedt, the 20-year-old Briton who lived up to expectations with a dominant ride. Setting off last, she powered through the 22.6 km in 30 minutes 56 seconds, comfortably securing gold.
Bäckstedt overtook Luxembourg’s Marie Schreiber on the road despite starting three minutes behind her, underlining her dominance. She finished 1 minute 50 seconds ahead of Slovakia’s Viktoria Chladoňová, who at just 18 years old impressed with a silver medal time of 32:47. Italy’s Federica Venturelli claimed bronze.
Of the 50 registered riders, 47 started, two failed to finish, and three did not start.
Kigali writes new history
For the first time in history, the Worlds are being held in Africa, and Kigali is embracing the moment. A record 769 riders are taking part, more than the 647 who raced in Wollongong, Australia, in 2022, the last Worlds hosted outside Europe.
No fewer than 36 African nations have sent riders to Rwanda, compared with just 15 at last year’s Worlds in Zurich. By participation share, Africa now leads the pack with 33.64%, narrowly ahead of Europe’s 32.71%.
Kigali will further cement its place in global cycling later this week when it hosts the 194th UCI Congress on September 25, expected to be the second most attended in history, after Glasgow 2023.
The afternoon session shifted focus to the Men’s U23 ITT over 31.2 km. Rwanda’s Etienne Tuyizere, racing his fourth Worlds, set off first from BK Arena, while Samuel Niyonkuru rolled out at 2:50 p.m. The race drew 61 riders.
With two full days of competition complete, Kigali is buzzing. From the roaring crowds in Remera and Nyanza to the resilience of local riders, the city is showcasing both world-class cycling and African passion for the sport.
