The International Cycling Union (UCI) has officially confirmed the schedule for the 2025 World Cycling Championship, which will be held in Kigali, Rwanda.
The event, running from Sunday, September 21, to Sunday, September 28, 2025, promises to be a historic occasion for the competition, featuring a grueling 267.5 km route with a total elevation gain of 5,475 meters. This championship is already attracting global attention due to its challenging course and significance in the cycling world.
The championship will unfold over eight days, with 13 different categories for men, women, and youth. It will kick off with individual time trials for both men and women, featuring significant climbs—680 meters for men and 460 meters for women. The first four days will be dedicated to time trials, culminating in a mixed team time trial on Wednesday.
Most circuit races will take place in the Kimihurura area, on a 15.1-kilometer loop, with riders completing between five and fifteen laps depending on their category. The men’s road race will include the iconic ascent of Kwa Mutwe, also known as the Mur de Kigali, followed by a steep climb up Mount Kigali.
David Lappartient, President of the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) in Zurich, on the sidelines of the UCI 2024 Road World Championships
The highlight of the event will be the men’s road race on Sunday, September 28, which covers the full 267.5 kilometers, with the riders battling a staggering 5,475 meters of total ascent. The race is set to begin at 9:20 AM and finish at 10:35 AM.
Full Schedule for the 2025 World Cycling Championship:
Sunday, September 21, 2025:
Women’s Individual Time Trial: 31.2 km with a 460-meter ascent
Men’s Individual Time Trial: 40.6 km with a 680-meter ascent
Monday, September 22, 2025:
U23 Women’s Individual Time Trial: 22.6 km with a 350-meter ascent
U23 Men’s Individual Time Trial: 31.2 km with a 460-meter ascent
Tuesday, September 23, 2025:
Junior Women’s Time Trial: 18.3 km with a 225-meter ascent
Junior Men’s Individual Time Trial: 22.6 km with a 350-meter ascent
Wednesday, September 24, 2025:
Advanced Team Time Trial: 42.4 km with a 740-meter ascent
Thursday, September 25, 2025:
U23 Women’s Road Race: Eight laps in Kimihurura, totaling 119.3 km with a 2,435-meter ascent
Friday, September 26, 2025:
Junior Men’s Road Race: Eight laps in Kimihurura, totaling 119.3 km with a 2,435-meter ascent
U23 Men’s Road Race: Eleven laps in Kimihurura, totaling 164.6 km with a 3,350-meter ascent
Saturday, September 27, 2025:
Junior Women’s Road Race: Five laps in Kimihurura, totaling 74 km with a 1,520-meter ascent
Women’s Road Race: Eleven laps in Kimihurura, totaling 164.6 km with a 3,350-meter ascent
Sunday, September 28, 2025:
Men’s Road Race: Nine laps in Kimihurura, one lap around Kigali, and six additional laps in Kimihurura, for a total of 267.5 km with a 5,475-meter ascent.
This event will be one of the most challenging and prestigious in the history of the World Cycling Championship, highlighting Kigali’s steep terrain and providing a thrilling test for the world’s top cyclists.
