The World Championship of Rwanda begins this week: dates, schedules, and favorites

After La Vuelta, it's time to turn our attention to the African continent, to the unprecedented World Championship in Rwanda. A race that, based on the images that the Tour of Rwanda leaves us every year, promises to be a cycling spectacle like few others and, due to the altitude of Kigali and the toughness of the proposed routes.

Pogacar meets history again at the 2025 World Championship in Rwanda

The final touch of the 2025 season is approaching with a World Championship that will be held for the first time in history on the African continent, in a country whose main event, the Tour of Rwanda, year after year leaves images of roads crowded with enthusiastic spectators, giving the race a colorful atmosphere rarely seen elsewhere.

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A World Championship, on an extremely tough course and with the condition of the average altitude of Kigali, the capital of Rwanda and the venue of these world championships, located at 1,567 m. Undoubtedly the ideal setting for Tadej Pogacar, who not only aims to repeat the title he won last year in Zurich but also raises the stakes and will seek a double victory that no one has ever achieved with his participation in the time trial event.

Dates and schedule of the 2025 World Championship in Rwanda

Sunday 21/09

• 10:10 - 12:55: Women's Elite individual time trial
• 13:45 - 16:50: Men's Elite individual time trial

Monday 22/09

• 10:35 - 12:45: Women's U23 individual time trial
• 13:35 - 16:30: Men's U23 individual time trial

Tuesday 23/09

• 10:45 - 12:45: Junior Women's individual time trial
• 14:00 - 16:30: Junior Men's individual time trial

Wednesday 24/09

• 12:30 - 17:00: Mixed relay time trial

Thursday 25/09

• 13:05 - 16:30: Women's U23 road race

Friday 26/09

• 08:00 - 11:15: Men's Junior road race
• 12:00 - 16:25: Men's U23 road race

Saturday 27/09

• 07:10 - 08:10: Women's Junior road race
• 12:05 - 16:45: Women's Elite road race

Sunday 28/09

• 09:45 - 16:45: Men's Elite road race

All times are CET, which at this time of year coincides with the local time in Rwanda.

Favorites for victory in the Men's Elite Time Trial at the 2025 World Championship in Rwanda

As is already a tradition in the UCI Road World Championships, the individual time trial will open the 8 days of competition, being held first to attract the largest audiences on Sunday, for both the elite men's and women's categories.

In the men's time trial, without a doubt, one cyclist is the top favorite for victory. It can only be Remco Evenepoel, who in the recent Tour of Britain has shown that he arrives at the world championship in great form. Additionally, we cannot forget that the Belgian cyclist has won this event in the last two editions, having finished third in the two previous ones.

However, in this 2025 World Championship in Rwanda, he will have to deal with a small nuisance that will surely make things very difficult for him. This nuisance goes by the name of Tadej Pogacar, the number 1 in practically any race he enters, and if he has chosen to compete in the time trial event, it is because he is aiming for victory. The Slovenian cyclist does not settle for half measures, and as has been shown on other occasions, he has more than enough capacity to fight for the rainbow jersey.

With the absence of Philippo Ganna, there are not many more cyclists who, at first glance, can challenge these two giants. Perhaps, based on the good time trial he performed in La Vuelta and the level of form he has shown throughout the Spanish tour, he may be the closest to the best times.

Another rider to always consider is the Swiss Stefan Küng, a true specialist in individual time trials who usually performs at the highest level, although in recent times he may be a step below his usual level.

Route of the Men's Elite Time Trial at the 2025 World Championship in Rwanda

Not even the time trial at the 2025 World Championship in Rwanda is exempt from the toughness that defines this event. In the case of the men's Elite category, the race will cover a distance of 40.6 km.

A course with hardly a flat meter where participants will have to tackle no less than 4 climbs: Nyanza, 2.5 km at 5.8% average gradient on the way out, and the same climb on the return, which is 6.6 km at 3.5%; the Cote de Peage, similar to the first ascent with 2 kilometers at 6%; and, as a dessert, the cobbled climb of Kimihurura, 1.3 km at 6.3% but, after reaching the top, there is hardly any descent before the road continues to ascend in the last kilometer to the finish line, which at that point in the race can make significant differences if the race plan and energy regulation have not been carefully executed.

How to watch the 2025 World Championship in Rwanda

As is customary in world championship events, both Eurosport and RTVE will provide full coverage at the times indicated at the beginning of this 2025 World Championship in Rwanda.

Eurosport on its E1 and E2 channels as well as on the associated HBO Max platform. On the other hand, RTVE will broadcast the different events on its Teledeporte channel and through its online platform RTVE Play.