Rwanda cycling federation “FERWACY” has appointed French company A.S.O. and Belgian company Golazo as event delivery partners to support the Rwanda local organising committee to stage the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali. The three parties signed an agreement on Tuesday January 9th, 2024 at Kigali.
Cycling is on the rise on the African continent, both in terms of elite riders and amateurs, with the sport becoming increasingly popular with the continent’s youth. And, for the first time in the 103-year history of the UCI Road World Championships, the 2025 contest will be held in Africa. From 21 to 28 September 2025, the battle for the rainbow jerseys will be fought in and around clean and green capital city of Rwanda, Kigali.
The championships will come to Kigali following a hosting agreement that was signed between the Government of Rwanda and Union Cyliste Internationale (UCI) in 2021 to stage this prestigious event in the country of thousand hills.
After signing the agreement, Mr Samson Ndayishimiye, the President of FERWACY commented “we are so excited and happy for this historical moment not only for our Country but also for our continent and we are ready to work with A.S.O. and Golazo, and deliver on these championships.”
Reacting to the partnership, Yann Le Moenner, CEO A.S.O. highlighted “It is a big step for cycling to organize the first ever world championships on the African continent, and it is truly an honor for A.S.O. to have been selected alongside Golazo to support the Ministry of Sports and the Cycling Federation in this ambitious project. Kigali is definitely the right place to host such a breakthrough event as the people have a true passion for cycling here, and the hilly city could offer one of the most challenging grounds for a cycling race. We are really excited to be able to bring our expertise to such a promising event”.
Speaking about the partnership, Bob Verbeeck, CEO of Golazo Group mentioned “We are honoured to help co-organise this memorable sporting moment for Africa. We have been active in East Africa for more than 10 years. In recent years, our operations in Kenya have gained momentum. This is another big step in developing our foothold in Africa. Golazo will open an second office in Kigali, Rwanda, in addition to its current office in Nairobi (Kenya)”.
Mr Zephanie Niyonkuru, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Sports, who chairs the Local Organizing Committee (LoC) indicated “Rwanda targets to become a continental hub for sports, staging 2025 UCI Road World Championships will boost cycling development activities in our country, provide employment to our people and business to the private sector companies hence increasing the contribution sports is having in our economy.”
For a period of eight (8) days, Kigali 2025 UCI Road World Championships will feature men and women competing in both time trials and road races across 6 categories: elite men, elite women, men under 23, women under 23, men junior and women junior. Around 20,000 international visitors will be expected in Kigali to enjoy this historic sport event.
FERWACY – Rwanda Cycling Federation brings together 11 registered cycling club members. The federation organizes competitions across different categories for youth and elite riders. The federation also works with the Ministry of Sports to organize one of the top continental races “Tour du Rwanda” which is ranked at 2.1 as per UCI classifications.
GOLAZO is an international sports and health company from Belgium. Golazo is a long-standing organiser of the Baloise Belgium Tour, the Renewi Tour (UCI WorldTour in Belgium and the Netherlands) and a dozen one-day races, and many more cyclo-cross races, track events and recreational cycling events. It was co-organiser of the very successful 2021 Road World Championship in Flanders. In Kenya, Golazo runs one of Africa’s most important athletics meets, a big city marathon in Nairobi and has built up numerous grassroots sport events in cooperation with local partners.
Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O.) is a company that owns, designs and organizes top international sporting events. Specialized in the ‘non-stadia’ events, it has in-house knowledge of professions linked to organisation, media and sales of sports events.
A.S.O. organises 250 days of competition per year, with 100 events in 36 countries.
A.S.O. is involved in 5 major sports including cycling with the Tour de France, motor sports with the Dakar, mass events with the Schneider Electric Marathon de Paris, golf with the Lacoste Ladies Open de France and sailing with production and distribution of images for prestigious races.
Amaury Sport Organisation is a subsidiary of the Amaury Group, media and sport group that owns the newspaper L’Equipe.
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