The Tour du Rwanda 2025 featured a controversial finish with Fabien Doubey’s win amid the cancellation of the final stage due to inclement weather. Moise Mugisha’s emotional family moment highlighted the event, and Rwanda established a UCI center to support young cyclists. Rwandan riders showed promise, with Vainqueur Masengesho finishing seventh, suggesting a brighter future for the sport in the region.
The Tour du Rwanda 2025 will be noted for both its highs and lows. Rwandan cyclists exhibited a promising resurgence, yet the victory of TotalEnergies’ Fabien Doubey sparked controversy as it followed the organizers’ abrupt cancellation of the final stage due to adverse weather conditions. The race concluded at the Kigali Convention Centre on March 2, positioning itself as a precursor to the UCI World Championships scheduled for Kigali in September.
Significantly, this edition of the Tour marked the first cancellation of a stage since its inception as a regional race in 2008. The seventh stage was nullified following heavy rainfall, compelling the race commissioner to finalize results based on the overall standings after six stages. This is an anomaly in Rwandan cycling, although similar cancellations have been observed in other international competitions, including the 2019 Tour de France.
In an emotional moment during Stage 3, Rwandan cyclist Moise Mugisha, who is the only Rwandan to have won a stage since the race acquired UCI 2.1 status, paused to embrace his family in Busogo. The moment was captured in photographs and highlighted the importance of familial support in an athlete’s journey. Despite this touching display, he later faced reprimands from the UCI for a rules violation at the end of the race.
Moreover, Rwanda achieved a significant milestone with the launch of a UCI World Cycling Centre (WCC) Regional and Continental development satellite, making it only the second African country to host such a center. UCI President David Lappartient inaugurated the facility just before the race commenced, underscoring Rwanda’s commitment to developing future African cycling talent and creating opportunities for local youth and refugees.
Rwandan cyclists demonstrated notable improvement during this year’s event. Fast-rising cyclist Vainqueur Masengesho secured a place in the top 10, finishing seventh overall, only 51 seconds behind champion Fabien Doubey. This performance indicates that Rwandan cyclists are positioned to reclaim their place in international cycling competitions, provided they receive essential support and resources.
In summary, Tour du Rwanda 2025 will remain memorable due to its controversy, highlighted by a final stage cancellation, emotional moments of family connection, and an important development for cycling in Rwanda. The establishment of the UCI development satellite will nurture young talent, while Rwandan cyclists have shown great potential. The event has reinvigorated hopes for the future of Rwandan cycling as it prepares for greater competitions ahead.
Original Source: www.newtimes.co.rw
