Government of Rwanda partially shuts down Kigali for World Championships, including school closures

These will be the first world cycling championships on the African continent. To ensure that everything runs smoothly, the government has taken several decisions to “guarantee the safety of athletes, officials, and the public.” People are being encouraged to work from home as much as possible, and all schools in Kigali will be closed from September 21 to September 28. “The Ministry of Education will coordinate closely with school administrators and parents to facilitate a smooth transition during this period,” according to the press release. In addition, the city will temporarily close some roads along the route at certain times.

The reports from Rwanda also highlight what is still possible: a fan zone in the ‘bustling’ city of Kigali. "Special fan zones will be set up in the city, where the public will have the opportunity to see world-class cycling up close. We urge everyone to plan ahead, support each other, and embrace the 2025 UCI Road World Championships together," it said.

The Dutch women's national coach, Laurens ten Dam, recently announced his selection for the World Championships road race and time trial. He said that only victory matters: “We are going for gold.” The selection includes Demi Vollering, Anna van der Breggen, and Marianne Vos. In Rwanda, the Dutch women will not have to contend with Pauline Ferrand-Prévot: the Frenchwoman and recent Tour winner announced that she does not want to fly to Africa. At the time of writing, the Dutch men's selection has not yet been announced.