Not long ago, Kigali’s streets throbbed with the hum of spinning wheels, the cheers of spectators, and the unshakable rhythm of national pride. The 2025 UCI Road World Championships transformed our hills into a stage watched by the world. ALSO READ: Kigali hosts 110 nations at historic 2025 UCI Road World Championships But as days slip by, one wonders; have we already begun to forget the names of the riders who conquered our climbs and slopes? The routes that twisted through our neighbourhoods? Or the legendary Mur de Kigali, that tested the limits of endurance and etched itself into cycling folklore. The banners have come down, the podiums dismantled, and the world has moved on. But should we? Should Kigali simply bask in the afterglow of having hosted one of cycling’s greatest spectacles, or should we seize this moment to imagine what comes next, to innovate, and to keep the wheels turning long after the applause fades? ALSO READ: Kigali makes history with the UCI Road World Championships The 2025 UCI cheers are fading faster, and the city has returned to its rhythm, but deeper reflection is necessary. Should Kigali remain content, thumping its chest for having successfully hosted the event? Should Rwanda merely be contented with “we did it,” deposit the event into our memory books, and move on? Or should this success be capitalized upon, to imagine and innovate ideas that will keep Kigali and Rwanda shining, not just for one moment, but for years to come? ALSO READ: 2025 UCI World Road Championships: Kigali crowds and organization steal the spotlight Rwanda’s cycling triumph must spark a revolution. Out of that reflection emerge two clear opportunities: Kigali Circuit, a one-day UCI Africa Tour Road race, and Bigogwe Mountain Race Challenge, a new mountain biking event with the potential to evolve into a UCI Mountain Bike World Cup fixture. Both initiatives would extend the legacy of Kigali 2025, sustain global visibility, and nurture local and continental talent. The championship routes, especially the punishing climbs of the Mur de Kigali, revealed Rwanda’s readiness to host elite cycling on a permanent basis. These same routes should not be left behind as mere memories. They should form the basis of an annual international competition. The proposed Kigali Circuit could blend the iconic championship climbs with new routes that offers fast, dramatic sprint finishes. ALSO READ: UCI 2025: Why the fury over Rwanda’s ‘sportswashing’? Modelled on classics like Belgium’s Franco-Belge Circuit, it could debut at Continental Tour level and gradually rise in status. More importantly, it would ensure that Rwanda’s name appears every year on the international cycling calendar. Athletes, teams, and media would return more to Kigali annually. The atmosphere that captivated the world during the UCI Championships would be reignited, hotels would be filled, businesses would thrive, and local riders would continue to test themselves against international competition. Beyond the economic and tourism benefits, the Kigali Circuit would provide something even more powerful, continuity. It would sustain the passion that swept through the streets during Kigali 2025. Young fans inspired by what they saw would know that the story did not end there. Aspiring cyclists would have a permanent stage on which to dream, compete, and rise. We are a land of a thousand hills. Our terrain offers an equally promising frontier in mountain biking. The rolling, emerald hills of Nyabihu, particularly the Bigogwe region, offer a setting that is both breathtaking and challenging. The Bigogwe Mountain Race Challenge could introduce Rwanda to the global mountain biking community through cross-country and endurance formats, eventually positioning itself for UCI Class 1 recognition, and in the long term, a World Cup round. Such an event would highlight Rwanda’s natural beauty while expanding its sporting identity. Globally, mountain biking tourism is booming, and Rwanda is uniquely placed to attract participants, enthusiasts, and adventure tourists. Communities in Bigogwe and surrounding areas would benefit from visitors, accommodation demand, and cultural tourism. Most importantly, local athletes would gain international exposure without leaving the continent. The 2025 UCI Road World Championships were an extraordinary achievement—but they must be viewed as a springboard, not a peak. Rwanda’s infrastructure has been upgraded, international credibility has been earned, and organizational excellence has been demonstrated. To stop at celebration would be to waste a foundation built with such effort. By launching the Kigali Circuit and the Bigogwe Mountain Race Challenge, Rwanda would prove that it is not merely a capable host of global events, but an innovator, creating its own cycling traditions and setting the pace for the continent. The success of Kigali 2025 was no accident, it was the product of vision, discipline, and collaboration. Those same qualities must now guide the next steps. The question before us is no longer whether Rwanda can host great events. That question has been answered. The real question is whether the legacy of Kigali 2025 will remain a proud memory or evolve into a permanent movement. ALSO READ: Kigali shines as PFL Africa delivers action-packed semifinals The Kigali Circuit and the Bigogwe Mountain Race Challenge offer practical, visionary paths forward. They would ensure that Rwanda is not remembered for one shining moment but respected for building a cycling tradition that endures. The choice is clear, celebrate and move on, or innovate and lead. Rwanda has shown the world that it belongs. Now it must decide to remain there. ALSO READ: Memorable highlights of Tour du Rwanda 2025 I must say that, these ideas are not meant to replace Tour du Rwanda, far from it. Tour du Rwanda has its own soul, a multi-stage spectacle that traverses the nation and has already earned global respect. The Kigali Circuit and Bigogwe Mountain Race Challenge would instead complement it, each serving a distinct purpose: one anchoring the capital as a recurring one-day classic, the other opening Rwanda’s mountainous west to a new frontier of cycling adventure. Together, they would expand the country’s cycling calendar and deepen its international appeal. The writer is a development and alternative financing strategist.
