World Championship 2025: Men’s RR, September 28

[Berniece]

The UCI Road World Championships in Rwanda ends on Sunday, 28 September, with the Men’s Elite Road Race. This is the first time the Worlds are being staged in Africa, with all races centred in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

🇷🇼 Rwanda & Kigali: A First for Africa
At an altitude of 1,500 metres, Kigali offers a very different dynamic for a world championship race than usual.

The city is built on hills, so while distances aren’t huge, every route features repeated climbing.

Hosting the Worlds is a landmark moment for African cycling, but not without controversy. Rwanda under President Paul Kagame has been widely criticised for human rights abuses and authoritarian politics. Critics warn of “sportswashing,” while the UCI frames it as a global expansion of the sport.

Route
Distance: 267.5 km
Total climbing: ~5,475 metres

We'll start at 9:45 a.m. near the Kigali Convention Center. The peloton will begin the 15.1-kilometer circuit there, which will be presented nine times in the first phase of the race.

What does such a lap look like? After a descending section, the Côte de Kigali Golf (800 meters at 8.1 percent) looms 8.5 kilometers from the finish. The peloton then heads to the Côte de Kimihurura (1.3 kilometers at 6.3 percent), a climb we remember from the time trial and starting 2.5 kilometers from the finish. On this cobbled climb, you can almost see the finish line, because after a very short plateau, the riders begin the final, sloping kilometer at 4 percent.

After nine passes, the peloton makes a foray that will stick to the riders' backs. There are three obstacles along the route.

We start with the Côte de Péage (1.8 kilometers at 5.9 percent), followed by Mount Kigali (5.9 kilometers at 6.9 percent), and finally, the famous Mur de Kigali (400 meters at 11 percent on cobblestones). Mount Kigali, in particular, seems to play a key role. The climb has peaks of up to 20 percent and carries the peloton to an altitude of 1,771 meters. It's the only true climb - worthy of the name - that creates the significant elevation gain. The majority of the elevation gain is achieved primarily through a succession of smaller, shorter jumps. The summit of Mount Kigali is 104 kilometers from the finish and could be the gateway to the finale. As mentioned, it takes us back to the local circuit along the Wall of Kigali.

After nine reconnaissance stages in the first half of the race, a second and final six-lap course follows, each taking in the Côte de Kigali Golf and the Côte de Kimihurura.

Map

Top competitors
5,475 metres of elevation over ~267 km is brutal. The extension with Mont Kigali + Wall of Kigali will be decisive: a place to attack or crack. Fatigue, heat, possibly altitude will factor. Riders with endurance and resilience will be favored. Is this a course for mountain goats? True climbers will find what they're looking for thanks to Mount Kigali, but more classic types who survive the onslaught will find a route just for them in the final 100 kilometers.

 

[Berniece]

The real question is whether Pog will do good on Sunday. And what it means ? Should he top 5 ? Top 10 ? If he doesn't then what ? Is he then fatigued or something else ? Long season might be taking a toll.

I added this thread to discuss this specifically. More than enough riders will go to Rwanda in the following days, and have shown to be in decent form. Look at Skjelmose in Luxembourg for example.

I think Pog will still be very good on Sunday. Apparently he's doing 2 hard trainings still in the next few days to get ready.

 

[Red Rick]

Winning margin anyone?

I have 3'49 in front of Ciccone and Pidcock sprinting it out for 2nd.

 

[Berniece]

Winning margin anyone?

I have 3'49 in front of Ciccone and Pidcock sprinting it out for 2nd.

I don't expect such a big margin. Pogacar will be too afraid to go too early. Last year was close, AGR he launched too soon, and he did a bad ITT. If I was Pogacar, I wouldn't unleash until the last 2-3 rounds, and he isn't taking that amount of time in 2 rounds.

 

[Red Rick]

I don't expect such a big margin. Pogacar will be too afraid to go too early. Last year was close, AGR he launched too soon, and he did a bad ITT. If I was Pogacar, I wouldn't unleash until the last 2-3 rounds, and he isn't taking that amount of time in 2 rounds.

He wasn't afraid to launch comically early last season, I don't see why he should be now. We've seen in Glasgow he can doa completely garbage TT and still be there at the tail end of a crazy road race, and that one didn't even really suit him.

 

[Salvarani]

He wasn't afraid to launch comically early last season, I don't see why he should be now. We've seen in Glasgow he can doa completely garbage TT and still be there at the tail end of a crazy road race, and that one didn't even really suit him.

TT was after the RR and he was spent in the TT. Didnt recover. And afterwards struggled in the races before Lombardia in 2023, but pulled it off with cramp after attacking on the descent.

You are overestimating and projecting, like before the ITT.

It is all about his recovery and what his form is in a week, but some teams are far stronger and going early on shaky form doesnt seem like a good idea. He will have to ride smart, wait and time his attack. I dont expect him crushing everybody and Remco/Belgium should definitely try to ride aggressive.

 

[Dazed and Confused]

Unless UAE overbids AUS, I'm going with V$ne. Aussie, Aussie, lets go.
Also Rein sandbagged big time yesterday. He will be ready come Sunday.

 

[Lequack]

How can anyone beat Remco in this form? Once he gets 10 seconds, he will be gone.

 

[will-10]

Ben Healy is going to look magnificent in a rainbow jersey

 

[Red Rick]

TT was after the RR and he was spent in the TT. Didnt recover. And afterwards struggled in the races before Lombardia in 2023, but pulled it off with cramp after attacking on the descent.

You are overestimating and projecting.

It is all about his recovery and what his form is in a week, but some teams are far stronger and going early on shaky form doesnt seem like a good idea. He will have to ride smart and time his attack. I dont expect him crushing everybody and Remco/Belgium should definitely try to ride aggressive.

The only data point necessary is Montreal, which he would have won with his eyes closed if he didn't gift it.

This is the sort of parcours where nobody is close, no matter what, and tactics don't even matter. At some point, everyone is just completely spent, and at that point even after the slightest acceleration he'll realise he can just attack so he can be off to the pub sooner.

But nah, I guess the gOaT musn't be under any pressure to perform like one in race that suits him way more than everyone else.

 

[Salvarani]

The only data point necessary is Montreal, which he would have won with his eyes closed if he didn't gift it.

This is the sort of parcours where nobody is close, no matter what, and tactics don't even matter. At some point, everyone is just completely spent, and at that point even after the slightest acceleration he'll realise he can just attack so he can be off to the pub sooner.

But nah, I guess the gOaT musn't be under any pressure to perform like one in race that suits him way more than everyone else.

It is rolling terrain here and the climbs are not long, nor steep.

I think it suits someone like Remco much more, who has the team for it as well.

Again, it just seems like you are projecting Rick. From your wording and how you are building it up. Please, explain more so I can understand.

I dont doubt Pog could win, but I dont think it will be as dominant or play out as you seem to think. Nor do I really believe this how you feel and it is just a narrative you want to paint.

 

[Tim Cahill]

Why aren't Charles Kagimu and our lad from The Vatican on the start list this is a complete joke. It's not even worth tuning in early.

Batsaikhan? ARE YOU *** KIDDING MONGOLIA

Just going to have to find some new favourites, that guy from Rwanda looked half decent yesterday.

 

[tobydawq]

He wasn't afraid to launch comically early last season, I don't see why he should be now. We've seen in Glasgow he can doa completely garbage TT and still be there at the tail end of a crazy road race, and that one didn't even really suit him.

So we should just completely ignore that he seems in rather meh shape in comparison to his usual best?

 

[Netserk]

So we should just completely ignore that he seems in rather meh shape in comparison to his usual best?

He looks comparable to last year, his best shape ever at this time of the year.

And now he has the perfect route for him.

 

[Salvarani]

Nevermind, I see what is going on.

 

[Red Rick]

So we should just completely ignore that he seems in rather meh shape in comparison to his usual best?

If you look at Montreal and think he's in generally poor shape rather than jetlagged I don't know what cycling you've been watching the last 15 years.

But I guess I'm the biggest hater for not thinking he would be stupid enough to miss his peak in his 2nd biggest target race of the season by so much.

 

[tobydawq]

He looks comparable to last year, his best shape ever at this time of the year.

And now he has the perfect route for him.

He doesn't, no.

 

[tobydawq]

If you look at Montreal and think he's in generally poor shape rather than jetlagged I don't know what cycling you've been watching the last 15 years.

His competition in Montréal was not that good.

And you can't have jetlag for a whole week.

 

[Netserk]

The only thing not in his favor is if he hasn't adapted to the altitude (and time zone) by Sunday.

Super hard route with a massive vertical gain and an uphill finish after a steep cobbled climb. Screams Pogi like nothing else.

 

[Red Rick]

The only thing not in his favor is if he hasn't adapted to the altitude (and time zone) by Sunday.

Super hard route with a massive vertical gain and an uphill finish after a steep cobbled climb. Screams Pogi like nothing else.

No Netserk, he will clearly miss his target race because he was bad a week before. Like he missed Liege 2021, Fleche and Liege 2025, or Lombardia 2021, 2022, or 2023.

I have no idea how often people need to see the same bloody movie.

 

[Netserk]

For others to win, the winning move needs to be made before the long circuit.

Other countries should get attacks started soon and reduce the Slovenian team to a few helpers.

 

[Red Rick]

For others to win, the winning move needs to be made before the long circuit.

Other countries should get attacks started soon and reduce the Slovenian team to a few helpers.

I honestly just don't see what more attrition achieves against the most attrition resistant rider in the peloton. Maybe hope you get into a steady state earlier and pace the full 6-7 hours better so Pogacar can't just pull back 5 minutes himself?

For pure attrition resistance, I think the only guy that might randomly surprise Pogacar may be Ben Healy. Pidcock and Ciccone coming out of the Vuelta and not from altitude does not help them IMO. Evenepoel looks way too big for the road race right now.

 

[tobydawq]

No Netserk, he will clearly miss his target race because he was bad a week before. Like he missed Liege 2021, Fleche and Liege 2025, or Lombardia 2021, 2022, or 2023.

I have no idea how often people need to see the same bloody movie.

Especially if you're tired of the movie, you will expect it to happen again and again forever and ever and ever.

But some time he will not succeed, and I'm merely suggesting that 3:49 perhaps is a rather large winning margin to expect.

 

[Netserk]

It's so bad that even Rogla is a bigger favourite to win than Evenepoel, purely because of a tactical fustercluck.

 

[Devil's Elbow]

So we should just completely ignore that he seems in rather meh shape in comparison to his usual best?

Between the 2021 Euros (12th), 2021 Worlds (10th), 2022 Worlds (6th) and 2023 Worlds (19th), it was already fair to say that being one or two levels below his GT standard is the norm for Pogacar in championship TTs before his failure yesterday.

And even setting that aside, I would be very careful with making inferences about Pogacar's form off the back of a bad climby TT when Dauphiné happened three months ago. It would not surprise me at all to see Combloux revisited on Mont Kigali, and even if he doesn't, any loss would still be his first in a long and climby race since the 2021 Olympics.