Africa
Rwanda
Tour du Rwanda 2025 Ends in Controversy as Rwanda Prepares for the World Championships
Prince Jean
Mar 4, 2025
The 2025 Tour du Rwanda, one of Africa’s biggest cycling races, ended in an unexpected way after French rider Fabien Doubey—who was leading the general classification—called for the cancellation of Stage 7 due to dangerous road conditions caused by heavy rain.
This year’s race, the 17th edition since it became an international competition, was flagged off by President Paul Kagame and UCI President David Lappartient on February 23, 2025. On the same day, the two leaders discussed ways to elevate Tour du Rwanda to a World Tour-level event in the future.
The 2025 edition was particularly special since it took place just months before Rwanda hosts the UCI Road World Championships in September, marking the first time the global cycling event will be held in Africa.
To align with this upcoming championship, Tour du Rwanda 2025’s Prologue and Stage 7 were mapped along the same roads that will be used during the Worlds. A UCI official commissioner was also present to observe the race.
Security Concerns Addressed Before the Race
Before the race started, some concerns had been raised about security due to the conflict in eastern DR Congo, particularly in Goma, a city near Rubavu, where Stage 3 finished and Stage 4 began.
Despite these concerns, Tour du Rwanda went on without any security issues. While Belgium’s Soudal Quick-Step Devo Team pulled out due to safety worries, 14 other teams—including Lotto-Dstny Devo Team from Belgium—took part. The race director, Kamuzinzi Freddy, assured that everything ran smoothly.
“Security was not an issue. Some foreign teams and media outlets had concerns, but as you saw, everything was safe. One team withdrew citing security reasons, but we even took guests to visit the border as proof. Our country showed that what we say is the truth.”
Key Takeaways from the Race Before the World Championships
For seven days, everything went as planned, with Rwandan fans once again showing their love for cycling. Although no Rwandan riders won a stage, they fought hard.
One of the biggest highlights for Team Rwanda was Masengesho Vainqueur finishing 7th overall, just 51 seconds behind the winner. The last time a Rwandan finished in the top 10 was in 2022, when Manizabayo Eric "Karadiyo" finished 9th. In 2020, Mugisha Moïse finished 2nd.
Nsengiyumva Shemu won the King of the Mountains title, while Munyaneza Didier dominated the Intermediate Sprint classification. Additionally, Rwandan riders spent more time leading stages than any other team.
The Stage 7 Controversy That Ended the Race
One of the most talked-about moments of the race was the cancellation of Stage 7 due to rain.
On March 2, 2025, riders departed from Kigali Convention Centre, but before reaching the official start at RDB, some cyclists crashed due to slippery roads. Among them were Amanuel Gidey and Duarte Marivoet (UAZ team), with the Belgian forced to abandon the race.
After a long delay, organizers decided that riders could continue but their times wouldn’t be counted for the general classification.
As the peloton approached Mont-Kigali (Norvège section), reports came in that rain had severely damaged the road. Instead of continuing the full stage, the cyclists rode four neutralized laps near Kigali Convention Centre.
Then, Fabien Doubey (TotalEnergies), who was leading the race, refused to continue, arguing that the road was too slippery. He convinced the peloton to stop, and the UCI commissaire eventually declared the stage invalid.
Because of this, Doubey was confirmed as the overall winner, ahead of Eritrea’s Henok Mulubrhan, who was 6 seconds behind. However, the Frenchman was fined 200 Swiss Francs (approx. 315,000 Rwandan Francs) for unsporting behavior and might also face disciplinary action from UCI.
Organizers Say the Incident Won’t Impact Rwanda’s World Championship Preparations
Speaking to Rwanda TV, Tour du Rwanda Director Kamuzinzi Freddy insisted that the Stage 7 controversy did not damage the reputation of the race, as the weather was beyond their control.
“I wouldn’t say it affected the Tour du Rwanda. Of course, it was disappointing for Rwandans who were expecting an exciting finale, but it wasn’t our decision. We follow UCI regulations.”
Sports Minister Nelly Mukazayire added that UCI officials were impressed by Rwanda’s preparations for the 2025 World Championships but noted that the Stage 7 issues highlighted areas for improvement.
“They told us we are well-prepared. They were impressed. But, of course, we have to keep working. You saw how rain affected the race, so we need to be ready for all scenarios in September.”
She also emphasized that Rwanda’s goal is not just to host major cycling events but to improve the performance of Rwandan riders, ensuring they can compete at the highest level.
The 2025 Tour du Rwanda featured 69 riders from 20 countries, including 39 African cyclists (16 Rwandans), 26 Europeans, 5 Asians, and 1 American.
