Here we are. Everything is ready in Kigali for the 17th edition of the Tour du Rwanda, the most important race in the African calendar (classified as 2.1 category in the UCI calendar). The race starts with a 3.4 km prologue on Sunday 23rd, a route around the futuristic Amahoro Stadium, with 45,000 spectators. This isn't about football, as the focus is entirely concentrated on the preview of the Road World Championship scheduled for September. This is evident in the words of the organizational leaders and will be physically confirmed during the last of the seven stages. Among the announced protagonists, here's the leader of the Eritrean national team, Henok Mulubrhan, winner of the general classification in 2023. The "Tuscan" from Vinci, wearing the Astana colors, is the favorite. Keep an eye on France's Fabrice Doubey (Total Energies), 5th in 2024, German Moritz Kretschy (Israel-Premier Tech), 9th in 2024, and Belgian Milan Donie (Lotto). UAE Emirates and PicNic Post NL are the other well-equipped development teams that will compete with Rwandan, Eritrean, and Ethiopian athletes. Notable is the presence of the very young Bologna native Enea Sambinello in the UAE ranks, while the other Italian at the start is Verona's Alessio Gasparini (May Stars).

In total, 804 km to cover, with 13,190 meters of elevation to tackle. Of the 8 stages, the one on Friday, February 28th seems most capable of outlining the general classification. Or will the successor to Joseph Blackmore be designated by the final stage, set exactly on the 2025 World Championship route?

Prologue (23/02): Kigali (Amahoro Stadium) – Kigali (Amahoro Stadium) (3.4 km, time trial)

On Sunday, February 23rd, the Tour du Rwanda opens with a time trial prologue hosted on a four-kilometer track with start and finish inside the Amahoro stadium in the Rwandan capital.

Stage 1 (24/02): Rukomo – Kayenza (158 km)

The first stage, from Rukomo to Kayonza, will tackle a total elevation of 2,190 meters and will be 158 km long, retracing the route of the stage won in 2024 by Israeli Itamar Einhorn.

Stage 2 (25/02): Kigali – Musanze (121 km)
On Tuesday, February 25th, the caravan will start again from Kigali, with the finish in Muzanze (site of a satellite UCI training center), including an uphill section of about thirty kilometers that will be tackled after the first passage at the finish line.

Stage 3 (26/02): Musanze – Rubavu (102 km)

From Muzanze to Rubavu, a not-long stage where young William Junior Lecerf won in the 2024 edition. Two passages at the finish line at km 61 and 91.

Stage 4 (27/02): Rubavi – Karongi (97 km) 

Thursday, February 27th, fourth stage with a length of 97 km and similar elevation to the previous day, 2,101 meters. At the finish in Karongi, at 1,504 meters altitude, the epilogue of a stage open to multiple solutions?

Stage 5 (28/02): Rusizi – Huye (143 km)

Leaving Lake Kivu during stage number 5, which promises to be selective as evidenced by the unequivocal 3,742 meters of elevation to overcome in the 143 kilometers to Huye. The starting location, Rusizi, hosted the Colombian Restrepo's success in 2024. Climbing specialists on maximum alert.

Stage 6 (01/03): Nyanza – Kigali (Canal Olympia) (114 km)Back to Kigali, after 114 km starting from Nyanza, a location in southwestern Rwanda. The penultimate stage of the Tour du Rwanda. The finish in Kigali Canal Olympia, after 1,792 meters of elevation, near the multipurpose cultural center.

Stage 7 (02/03): Kigali (Convention Center) – Kigali (Convention Center) (73 km)

The curtain rises on the 2025 Road World Championship route. Last year on the 73 km covered, the British Blackmore made his solo breakaway (also winner of the 2024 Tour de l'Avenir), preceding the French Pierre La Tour and Kazakh Astana's Dostiyev by 30". First passage at the finish line after 15.4 km, second at 30.8 km, while at 59.8 km the Mont Kigali will dictate hierarchies, the highest point of the route with 5.9 km at 6 percent. At the World Championship, the elevation will be 5,475 meters over 276.5 km of racing. Standout features include the Kigali wall, iconic with 400 meters of pavé at 11 percent, while inside the local circuit that will be first covered nine times and then six to inspire fear are the Kigali Golf côte (800 meters at 8.1%) and Kimihurura côte (1.3 at 6.03%).

START LIST