"It's time for Africa". And what if Shakira was actually right, whose catchy tune is blasting in this world championship's nerve center? "Are you ready? This isn't a race, just enjoy yourselves" – the speaker recommends to the 700 – maximum allowed quota – participants of this Social Ride, an event taking place along the 15 km route that will be tackled fifteen times during the final act of the world championship.

A late Saturday morning where you might find yourself pedaling in the middle of the road and feel the air displacement as Tadej Pogacar passes by during his reconnaissance for the day's time trial. But let's talk about Social Ride, the sparkling and participatory atmosphere of Tugende, a cyclist's oasis frequented by people from all over the world, with Europeans in good proportion. You might encounter a middle-aged gentleman dressed to the nines in the Belgian, pardon Flemish, tour operator's outfit, specialized in cycling-friendly trips. The conversation drifts to Italy: "I loved Marco Pantani and I have a particular fondness for the Stelvio, which I've climbed six times. As for the equatorial pavé, I never thought I'd encounter these cobblestones at these latitudes".

ASSORTED ENCOUNTERS AND PAVÉ UNDER THE WHEELS

Let's proceed in order, given that in this lap, the section where the asphalt gives way to large cobblestones arrives about two kilometers before the finish line. Lined up on the grid, here's a large group of Bike for Future cycling team girls, "an association whose purpose – explains a manager – is to promote women's cycling as a form of gender empowerment".

The music falls silent, the countdown begins, and off they go, including the sports minister, each at their own pace (those starting too quickly are "punished" but justified), with good spirit the honorary consul of Armenia in Belgium, also Flemish and passionate about two-wheeled activities and Langhe Chardonnay. "I arrived last night, but I didn't want to miss this event, also fascinated by the observation possibilities that Rwanda offers in its entirety," says John Riddy, an English artist who views the world through a camera lens. For the avenues of the first part of the world championship, Social Ride also means organizational dress rehearsals, not just pleasant chats with a professor from the University of Parma who often comes here, or rather to Musanze (about a hundred kilometers from the capital); "I work on renewable energies and strategically bought a bike in Kigali, so I can have it when I'm in Rwanda". Renewable pedal energy: Metaphor accepted?

"A UNIQUE EXPERIENCE AND A WEEK FULL OF EMOTIONS"

At the barriers, there are those who lean out for a high-five with the participant, distracted by spotting the Champions with a capital C, pausing once again on the harshness of the route. Not just measured by the moderate pace the speaker mentioned a few minutes earlier. "I've been here since 1995, immediately after the Genocide: I married a Rwandan and we live in Brussels, where I'm a translator in the European context. But I'm Dutch, another land dedicated to cycling, what do you say?": even if one wanted to (why ever?) disagree with his friend Willy, generous with cycling travel advice in the Land of a Thousand Hills, any remaining doubt vanishes at the passage in front of the Dutch House, right on the cobblestone climb, complete with a tribune and a prominent Heineken sign. We find the polyglot Dutchman at Tugende, in the company of Jean Claude, a 23-year-old Rwandan who channels his propensity for anything with spokes also as a mechanic and travel companion: "being here today was truly unique, those of my generation know well, also thanks to the annual Tour du Rwanda, that international cycling events are fundamental to bring new young and very young practitioners to cycling activities. From today, the full immersion begins, I don't want to miss a single moment, although I'd gladly take a gravel ride, why not, heading towards Mount Kigali and the Mur de Kigali, with its 400-meter pavé at eleven percent gradient. In that place, enthusiasm will be hard to contain". But first, it's time for the hands of the clock.

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