Leuven (Belgium) (AFP)
The International Cycling Union formalized on Friday the holding of the World Road Championships in 2025 in Rwanda, a first for the African continent.
The UCI Congress, meeting on the occasion of the Worlds in Flanders, welcomed this first bride since her election in 2017 by the President of the Federation, the French David Lappartient.
All other continents have already hosted the World Road Championships.
After Flanders, which hosts the competitions this week, the next editions will take place in 2022 in Australia (Wollongong), in 2023 in Scotland and in 2024 in Switzerland.
"We have 54 federations in Africa, it was time to reward Africa for its investment in cycling," said David Lappartient.
"Rwanda was able to meet all the criteria which were organizational, financial and of course sporting. We know the passion that there is in Rwanda for cycling. There was real unanimity of the steering committee to support this candidacy. from Kigali, on a circuit that will be demanding, not far from 5000 vertical meters during the race, ”added the UCI president.
"There will perhaps be a million spectators, it will be fabulous," said David Lappartient, stressing the usefulness of the bicycle, "a major element in the development of Africa".
© 2021 AFP