Seven months prior to the inaugural cycling World Championships in Rwanda, the European Parliament passed a resolution advocating for the event’s cancellation should Rwanda fail to change its stance on its conflict with neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo. The global governing body for cycling, Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), maintains there is no alternative to the event proceeding.
Against this backdrop, the 2025 Tour du Rwanda took place. The eight-day cycling event has been a tradition since 1988 in Rwanda, a nation renowned for its cycling culture. Notably, the Quick-Step star team backed out, sparking concerns over safety. Nevertheless, the Tour continued with minimal disruption, aside from the cancellation of the final stage due to inclement weather, with just over 13 kilometers remaining.
Fabien Doubey of Team TotalEnergies triumphed in the race, closely followed by Henok Mulubrhan of Eritrea and Oliver Mattheis of Bike Aid. Bike Aid’s team owner, Matthias Schnapka, acknowledged the challenging locations they often race in, including post-conflict areas, emphasizing that the reality on the ground is often more complex than media portrayals might suggest. Despite expressing no major safety concerns in Rwanda, Schnapka does worry about weather conditions, noting that bad weather could have similarly disrupted races elsewhere, like the Olympics.
Schnapka also reflected on the debate surrounding the UCI Road World Championships, arguing against the simplistic labeling of countries as conflict-ridden or corrupt without a deeper understanding of the intricate circumstances. He called for an evaluation of each situation, including the role of former colonial powers and resource exploitation in these issues.
The significance of events like the Tour du Rwanda extends beyond competitive sports. Cycling, according to Schnapka, serves as a means to bridge divides, with cyclists engaging with local populations, a dynamic where sport can foster understanding and progress. However, there is a fear among some in the cycling community that political pressures could lead to the event’s relocation, potentially damaging African cycling’s progress and perpetuating negative perceptions about Africa’s safety.
Team Africa Rising’s CEO, Kimberly Coats, underscores the stakes involved, pointing to the risk that another World Championship might not be held in Africa for decades if Rwanda were to lose the event. She highlights the challenges faced by African riders, including visa issues and institutional prejudices, yet also draws attention to the achievements of African cyclists on the world stage, such as Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay winning a green jersey at the last Tour de France. The situation presents a complex web of political, social, and sporting considerations, illustrating the critical intersection of business, politics, and sports in the African context.
Source: https://www.dw.com/en/world-championships-in-rwanda-if-we-lose-this-race-it-will-destroy-cycling-in-africa/a-71813214?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf
