Kigali is exactly 10 days away from hosting the prestigious 2025 UCI Road World Championships, the very first in Africa, one big question lingers for every rainbow jersey contender and cycling fan: how big is the paycheck? According to the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the total prize money for the 2025 edition stands at €124,250 (approximately Rwf 200 million). From individual time trial and team time mixed relay to the road race, Time Sport has broken down how much winners will take home in their respective categories. The eight-day competition will showcase Rwanda’s hilly terrain, including punishing climbs, high altitudes, and vibrant fan culture. Times trials According to projections, this year’s championship will attract a cumulative television audience of over 330 million viewers worldwide, putting Kigali firmly in the spotlight of global cycling. The championships open with the individual time trials, where riders race alone against the clock. In the Elite Men (40.6 km) and Elite Women (31.2 km) categories, winners will each pocket €8,000 (approx. Rwf 12 million), while the first runner-up earns €4,000 (Rwf 6 million), and third takes €2,000 (Rwf 3 million). Combined, these events offer €28,000 (Rwf 45 million) in prize money. ALSO READ: How essential businesses will operate during UCI cycling race For the U23 Men (31.2 km) and U23 Women (22.6 km) time trials, the champions will take home €4,000 (Rwf 6 million). Runners-up will receive €2,000 (Rwf 3 million), and third-placed riders will get €1,000 (Rwf 1.5 million). Overall, these races account for €14,000 (Rwf 22 million). Meanwhile, the Junior Men (22.6 km) and Junior Women (18.3 km) will race for prizes of €2,000 (Rwf 3 million) for the winners, €1,000 (Rwf 1.5 million) for second place, and €500 (Rwf 750,000) for cyclists who will emerge third. The juniors time trials will bring a total of €7,000 (Rwf 11 million). One of the most thrilling formats, the Team Time Trial Mixed Relay, where men and women combine efforts, will cover 41.8 km. Defending champions Australia have already confirmed their participation. The winning team will share €15,000 (Rwf23 million), while second-place team will earn €7,500 (Rwf 11 million) and third will receive €3,750 (Rwf 5.5 million). The category’s prize pool totals €26,250 (Rwf 42 million). Road races The road races promise to be the most grueling in championship history. Rwanda’s terrain will push riders to their limits, particularly in the Men’s Elite race, which covers 267.5 km with 5,475 meters of elevation at Kigali’s altitude of 1,850m while Women’s Elite race will span 164.6 km. Winners in the Elite Men and Elite Women categories will earn €8,000 (Rwf 12 million) each, with €4,000 (Rwf 6 million) for second and €2,000 (Rwf 3 million) for third-placed riders. Together, these races contribute €28,000 (Rwf 45 million). ALSO READ: Why Kigali 2025 is billed to be UCI’s hardest race ever This year’s edition is marks history for the Under-23 categories, as it introduces the first-ever official Women’s U23 Road Race at the UCI Road World Championships. The Men’s U23 race will cover 164.6 km, while the Women’s U23 race will stretch 119.3 km. In both races, the winners will take home €4,000 (approx. Rwf 6 million) each. The second-place finishers will be awarded €2,000 (Rwf 3 million), while third place earns €1,000 (Rwf 1.5 million). In total, the U23 men’s and women’s road races will share a combined prize pool of €14,000 (around Rwf 22 million). In the junior categories, the Men’s Junior race (74 km) and Women’s Junior race (119.3 km) will each award €2,000 (Rwf 3 million) to the winners. Second-placed comers will take €1,000 (Rwf 1.5 million), while the third will earns €500 (Rwf 750,000). Altogether, juniors riders will share €7,000 (Rwf 11 million) and, the overall prize pool for the road race events account for €49,000 (Rwf 78 million) in prize money.
