For the first time in history, the UCI Road World Championships are coming to Africa. Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, will host a unique World Championships, and the time trial—increasingly crucial at major events—will have a special appeal. It won't be the classic "watt-defying challenge" of the Northern European plains: here, riders will encounter rugged terrain, full of steep climbs, cobblestones, and climbs that will break the pace and reward those who interpret the race as a test of endurance as well as power.

The route will start from the modern BK Arena and end in front of the Kigali Convention Centre, an architectural icon of the city. The elite women's race will cover 31 kilometers with approximately 460 meters of elevation gain, while the men will tackle over 40 kilometers and nearly 700 meters of total climbing. These numbers alone speak to the arduous nature of the event.

The key moments will be different. Already in the first section, the riders will face the Côte de Nyanza , short but taut, with gradients exceeding 6%. After a technical descent, the route features a second climb of the same hill, longer but steady, which will require knowing how to ration your energy. Being a pure time trialist won't be enough: the climber's pedal stroke will be needed.

The final section features the Côte de Péage , with its two kilometers of constant ascent, followed by the passage onto the Côte de Kimihurura , a short but intense climb, made even more challenging by the cobblestones. From the exit of Kimihurura, the final few meters of a gentle climb remain towards the finish line: a finale that will excite those who have managed to save something in their tank.

As for the protagonists, the most anticipated duel in the men's race is between Remco Evenepoel and Tadej Pogačar . The Belgian, the reigning world champion, has the power and ability to handle long efforts, but will have to prove he can adapt to the cobblestones and altitude of Kigali. The Slovenian, on the other hand, is a complete rider: explosive climbs and managing changes of pace could be fertile ground for him, especially if the race turns into a pure endurance exercise. More distant, but ready to take advantage, are solid riders like Thymen Arensman or Jay Vine.

In the women's race, the favorite remains Chloé Dygert , a two-time world champion. The American has the power to set her own pace and, on her day, can even tame the climbs. But the Kigali course could favor less "pure" specialists, like Demi Vollering , who with her climbing skills can find ideal terrain, or outsiders like Britain's Anna Henderson, capable of reading courses with varied elevation changes.

Making everything even more uncertain will be the altitude : Kigali is located at over 1500 metres, and anyone who hasn't prepared for high altitude conditions could pay the price in the final kilometres.

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