The first-ever road world championships in Africa should be a proud moment for cycling and the continent. But instead of celebration, Rwanda has become the stage for a sport caught in conflict and controversy.
The Vuelta a España ended on Sunday after three weeks of racing marked by widespread pro-Palestinian protests against the Israel-Premier Tech team’s participation. The chaotic finale saw race winner Jonas Vingegaard, runner-up João Almeida, and third-place Tom Pidcock celebrating with cheap champagne on a makeshift podium in a hotel parking lot.
The heated debate over sportswashing in cycling, which turned violent in Spain, has now shifted from Madrid to Kigali. Rwanda’s president, Paul Kagame, has long faced criticism from human rights groups who describe his government as authoritarian and undemocratic.
Despite this, UCI president David Lappartient insists that hosting the sport’s premier event in Rwanda—more than 30 years after the 1994 genocide—sends an inspirational “message of hope.” This comes despite Amnesty International’s reports of “enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, excessive use of force, unfair trials, and restrictions on freedom of expression” in the country.
Since announcing Rwanda as the 2025 host, Lappartient has brushed off criticism of Kagame’s regime, saying, “Every country has room for improvement, but when I see how far Rwanda has come, it’s impressive.” He added that the UCI always considers human rights, as it aligns with the Olympic values of peace, respect, and human rights.
Meanwhile, the movement to boycott the Israel-Premier Tech team is gaining momentum. Both Barcelona, which will host the start of the 2026 Tour de France, and the Canary Islands, set to stage the finish of next year’s Vuelta, have refused to welcome the team.
Amid this escalating dispute—which has put the UCI at odds with the Spanish government—Lappartient, known for his focus on technical details like handlebar width and sock aerodynamics, now finds himself navigating a political storm. Some within the UCI worry that he may be out of his depth, especially after receiving only four votes in the recent IOC presidential election.
The UCI rules allow for suspending a World Tour team’s license to “protect the image” of the tour. However, the Israel-Premier Tech team is not currently a World Tour team, complicating matters. A similar situation arose with the Russian-registered Gazprom-RusVelo team, which was banned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
This week, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated, “Using sport to ‘whitewash’ a genocide, like the one being committed…”The political stance taken in Gaza goes against the Olympic Charter and the fundamental values of sport. While Britain has a limited presence in Rwanda—with no riders in the women’s road race or men’s elite time trial—the surrounding buzz is unlikely to distract the focused and pragmatic Tom Pidcock. His move from Ineos Grenadiers to the smaller Q36.5 team has now been fully justified.
Fresh off his breakthrough podium finish at the Vuelta, Pidcock is among the favorites for the men’s road race on September 28. He will face defending champion Tadej Pogačar, the Tour de France winner, who claimed the world title in Zurich last year.
Pidcock will be joined in the British squad by Oscar Onley, who placed fourth in this year’s Tour de France and is rumored to be a transfer target for Ineos Grenadiers.
Pogačar, returning from a post-Tour break in top form, will be supported by a Slovenian team fully committed to his success. He is widely expected to secure a second world title, especially with Vuelta winner Jonas Vingegaard absent.
Thirteen world titles will be awarded during the week-long championships. Among the contenders is Cat Ferguson, a teenager from Skipton who won two gold medals as a junior in 2024. She is a favorite to earn the rainbow jersey in the women’s under-23 road race.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the cycling worlds focus on Rwanda following the Vuelta a España controversy designed to be clear and conversational
General Beginner Questions
1 What is the main controversy happening in cycling right now
The recent Vuelta a España was overshadowed by a major crash and controversial decisions by race organizers leading to widespread criticism and a feeling that the sports leadership is in turmoil
2 Why is everyone suddenly talking about Rwanda
Because Rwanda is hosting the 2025 UCI Road World Championships a massive event With traditional European cycling nations facing criticism for how they manage races the sport is looking to Rwanda as a potential new wellorganized host
3 What are the UCI World Championships
Its one of the biggest annual events in professional cycling where national teams compete for the prestigious rainbow jersey Its like the Olympics or World Cup for cycling
4 Has Rwanda hosted big races before
Yes Rwanda successfully hosts the Tour du Rwanda every year which has grown from a local race to a major international event on the UCI calendar known for its incredible organization and fan enthusiasm
Advanced InDepth Questions
5 Is the move to Rwanda just a distraction from the problems in European cycling
Some critics see it that way calling it sportswashingusing a positive sporting event to improve a countrys international reputation Supporters argue its a genuine effort to globalize the sport and reward excellent organization
6 What are the specific concerns about Rwanda hosting the World Championships
Concerns primarily focus on the countrys human rights record and political climate Critics worry the event will be used to divert attention from these serious issues
7 What are the benefits of holding the World Championships in Rwanda
It grows the sport globally brings massive economic investment to Rwanda and showcases African cycling talent on the worlds biggest stage It also rewards a nation that has proven it can organize a worldclass race
8 How does this relate to the Vuelta a España problems
The Vueltas issues highlighted failures in race safety and organization This created a straw that broke the camels back moment making the UCI eager to promote Rwanda as a model of how things
