The wait is over as Tour du Rwanda returns to the Rwandan routes. The race kicks off this Sunday, February 23, with a 4km prologue individual time trial (ITT) starting at the Kigali BK Arena and finishing at Amahoro Stadium. This year's race carries extra significance as it serves as a precursor to the prestigious UCI World Road Championships set to take place in September. The Rwanda National Police has announced that the routes for the first stage, from BK Arena, via the Controle Technique road, Simba Kimironko road, and ‘Kwa Rwahama' road to the main gate of Amahoro Stadium, will be closed from 9 am to 1 pm to ensure the safety of the race. Rwanda’s national team is among 15 teams comprising the peloton for this year’s grueling race. ALSO READ: A statistical deep dive into record-breaking Tour du Rwanda moments Star rider Moise Mugisha, a member of Team Rwanda, is making his seventh appearance in Tour du Rwanda. He is the only Rwandan cyclist to have claimed a stage at the annual UCI 2.1 event but he couldn’t finish the 2023 edition, citing fatigue issues behind the sudden decision. The 28-year-old is now back stronger and with a positive energy. “I’m happy to be in the tour again,” Mugisha said. “We have prepared well, so there are no worries about performing well this time round. Be with us and support us,” Mugisha told journalists in a pre-race press conference in Kigali on Saturday. The 2025 Tour du Rwanda welcomes back former champion Henok Mulubrhan, who won the overall title in 2023. Other returning riders include former stage winners Metkel Eyob, and Itamar Einhorn of Israel Premier Tech. The race consists of eight stages covering 812 kilometers. The longest stage, from Rukomo to Kayonza, spans 158 kilometers. The mountainous terrain, known for its challenging climbs and unpredictable weather, will likely be a decisive factor. Rwandan cyclists have historically excelled in climbing, and their success in this year's tour will depend on how well they perform in the mountain stages, particularly Kigali-Musanze (121km) and Musanze-Rubavu (102km). Endurance will also be critical, especially during back-to-back challenging stages like Rusizi-Huye (143km) and Nyanza-Canal Olympia (114km). Tour du Rwanda 2025 Stages Stage 1: Sunday, Feb. 23: Amahoro Stadium (Prologue 4km) Stage 2: Monday, Feb. 24: Rukomo - Kayonza (158km) Stage 3: Tuesday, Feb. 25: Kigali - Musanze (121km) Stage 4: Wednesday, Feb. 26: Musanze - Rubavu (102km) Stage 5: Thursday, Feb. 27: Rubavu - Karongi (97km) Stage 6: Friday, Feb. 28: Rusizi - Huye (143km) Stage 7: Saturday, March 1: Nyanza - Canal Olympia (114km) Stage 8: Sunday, March 2: KCC - KCC (73km)
