Rwanda and the world cycling governing body (UCI) are in talks for creating a new professional race that could bring a World Tour level cycling race to the African continent for the first time. Samson Ndayishimiye, president of the Rwandan Cycling Federation (Frewacy), told Belgian outlet La Dernière Heure that both parties are working closely how to build on the momentum of the 2025 World Championships in Kigali. The federation wants the Championships to leave a lasting influence on the sport in Rwanda. “We want the previous World Championships to leave a legacy,” “We are examining the best way to approach this. We need to determine the ideal date for a race, but we also need to consider the most suitable format. We want to present a strong field of participants,” Ndayishimiye said. The details are still open, he said. The choice between a one-day race or a stage race has not yet been made, and the calendar slot remains undecided. Ndayishimiye noted that the federation aims for a race with a higher status than the annual Tour du Rwanda, which has been a UCI 2.1 event since 2019 and currently stands as the only professional road race on the continent. Many observers of cycling praised the first elite World Championships on African soil. From a competitive and organisational standpoint, however, the UCI considered the event a success, and the local enthusiasm has encouraged Rwanda to pursue more. Ndayishimiye said the ambition is shared by both the federation and the UCI, though he emphasized the need for careful evaluation. “The shared desire is there, but we need to analyze everything calmly so we can make the right choices,” he noted. There is no fixed deadline, but a debut race in 2027 is seen as realistic. If the project advances and achieves World Tour status, Africa would for the first time host an annual top level road race, marking a significant step in the global development of the sport.
