Belgian Golazo organizes the World Cup in Rwanda: A battle between Van Aart and Van der Poel on a difficult course with a steep Kigali wall? | World Cycling Championship

Golazo isn't ready for his audition piece. In 2021, she also organized the World Championships in her country. Then I did it with the Flanders Classics. As with the World Cup in Bruges and Leuven, Golazo will do it in Kigali with another organizer. French company ASO, the company behind the Tour de France and Paris-Roubaix, among others, has also been tasked by the Rwandan cycling federation FERWACY to help organize the world championships in Kigali.

This is the first time that the World Championships are held in Africa. “We are honored to help guide this historic sporting moment for Africa,” said Bob Verbeek. With partners like Golazo and ASO, the local Rwandan organizing committee can draw on a wealth of international experience. Golazo has also been active in East Africa for more than ten years. “In recent years, our activities in Kenya have gained momentum. The World Cup in Rwanda is the next big step in our presence in Africa. In addition to the current office in Nairobi (Kenya), Golazo will open a second branch in Kigali, Rwanda,” says Verbeek.

In recent days, the Gulazo team visited Kigali to review all aspects of the organization. Christophe Impens was really impressed. “The course is absolutely beautiful and very suitable for the Cycling World Cup.” Every cycling enthusiast has by now seen pictures of the notorious and difficult Kigali Wall on YouTube. If not, do it. Every year during the Rwanda Tour there is a lot of competition for a place. Regendijk, the cycling-mad Rwandans, enthusiastically encourages all the riders. During next year's world championships, drivers will climb the Kigali Wall once, as well as the tall, asphalted Mount Kigali.

The final arbiter of the World Championship will be the cobblestone slope over one and a half kilometers long at the end of each round. Elite men must climb this slope no less than 14 times.

The cobblestones eventually turn into a wide boulevard 500 meters from the finish at the Kigali Convention Centre. This last half kilometer reminds us of the World Cup final in Leuven.

“Obviously it's better for runners to stay home,” Impence laughs. During the road race, elite men will cross the 5,000-meter elevation mark at an altitude of 1,400 metres. “The course is not only beautiful because of the challenging sections. Contrary to what many might think, the quality of the roads and infrastructure available is truly impressive. Kigali has everything to make it a high-quality World Cup. Impens is firmly convinced that the 2025 World Championship will surprise many Cycling lovers.

The World Cup on African soil may also raise some questions for all cycling enthusiasts. What about safety in Kigali? Well, the Foreign Affairs website is clear. Rwanda is considered a safe and peaceful country. If you follow the guidelines of local authorities, insecurity will not be an obstacle.

How much does that cost? The trip to Rwanda is not free, of course. But in any case, there is no problem at all to make the trip from Zaventem. Many airlines – active or not – fly directly from Brussels to Kigali. Count on around 700 euros for the return trip. As a tourist in Rwanda you do not need a visa. So this cost is already gone.

What about hotel accommodation? “Kigali has a broad and high-quality hotel offering,” says Impence. A quick glance at Booking.com confirms this. “By the way, there's not a piece of paper or a box on the floor. Kigali is very clean. It's an example to many big cities.”