As the UCI Road World Championship kicked off on Sunday, September 21, in Kigali, excitement grew among local and international cycling fans. Spectators were encouraged to show their support not only from designated fan zones but also along the race route, provided they did so safely and without obstructing the cyclists.
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Sports minister Nelly Mukazayire, in a press conference, emphasized the importance of fan support along the race routes, encouraging spectators to cheer for their teams as cyclists pass during the UCI Road World Championship.
"Fans can gather to watch the UCI from various locations such as Mille de Kigali, Simba Kimironko, and Norvège among others. Any place where people come together to cheer can become a fan zone. Whether it is drumming, playing music, or simply celebrating, what matters is the spirit of support,” she noted.
"Even areas not officially designated as fan zones like the front of your house, can become vibrant cheering spots as long as the cyclists pass by. In short, anywhere can be a fan zone if people are there to celebrate,” she added.
In addition, there are specific areas along the race routes where fans can gather to cheer on their teams during the UCI Road World Championship. Such locations have been identified based on the official race routes and are regarded as safe spots where many spectators can enjoy the event without disrupting the cyclists.
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Here is a look at the fan zones that attracted fans:
BK Arena
BK Arena is the starting point of the race for the first three days starting. From there, fans got the opportunity to see the cyclists as they started the race and cheered them on, a live experience that was exclusively enjoyed by them.
Kigali Convention Centre, KCC
KCC, which is the finish line for the first three days was also a very vibrant fan spot. Within areas surrounding KCC, people gathered in designated spaces and cheered up for cyclists, as well as enjoying the ceremonies of handing out the medals.
Kimironko Simba Super Market
This is also another zone where fans had the opportunity to look at the race. It is one of many supermarkets found on the surrounding streets within Kimironko. For the first three days, riders will move from BK Arena, through Simba Supermarket, Kwa Rwahama, Prince House, Sonatubes, Nyanza, Gahanga, and back towards Kanogo, Mediheal, Women Foundation Ministries, and sprint toward the finish line at KCC. All these routes’ riders will pass through, can be spots where fans can stand and then cheer up.
What fans say:
People in Rwanda expressed pride in hosting the UCI Road World Championship. For example, Jacqueline Uwayezu, a food and beverage service worker at Kwa Rwahama, shared their readiness to serve customers during the UCI Road World Championship.
"This is a thrilling opportunity for us, as it is the first time this event will be held in Africa. We are also eager to generate income from the competition, and we are happy to be able to watch it live rather than on television," she said.
Jean de Dieu Nkurunziza, a cyclist and volunteer at the National Paralympic Committee (NPC) Rwanda, shared his thoughts on Rwanda hosting the UCI Road World Championship.
"It is important to attend and cheer on the professional cyclists. We are also happy that the organisers considered people with disabilities, showing that we are also capable of contributing. We are ready to work hard to ensure the success of the competition,” he said.
Bukhar Banzi, a 20-year-old mountain biker from Musanze, expressed his excitement about Rwanda hosting the race and also shared his hopes for the event.
"As cyclists, we are thrilled that Rwanda will be the first African nation to host the World Championships. This is a tremendous source of happiness for us, and we are eager to learn from the event. Even though we may not have the opportunity to participate this time, we are determined to work hard and earn a spot in the next competition," he said.
Nahom Solomon, manager at Simba super market at Kimironko, outlined their preparations in ensuring seamless service delivery during the race.
"In preparation for the UCI Road World Championship, we have had to adapt our schedules due to road closures. This has meant some staff starting as early as 4 a.m and our food suppliers beginning their day around 2 a.m,” he noted.