The Rwanda Cycling Federation (FERWACY) is in talks with the International Cycling Union (UCI) to upgrade the country’s international cycling race, the Tour du Rwanda, to a World Tour from 2027.
The Tour du Rwanda, which is held annually over eight days, is at a level of 2.1 and FERWACY is considering how to upgrade it, the association’s president, Ndayishimiye Samson, told La Dernière Heure.
“We want the last World Cycling Championships to leave a legacy. We are looking for the best way to achieve this. We need to find the right time to organize the cycling race, but we also need to consider the best way to host it. We want to bring in a lot of great athletes.”
He added, “However, the goal is to raise the level of the race. In the future, this race could even reach the level of the World Tour. It is a shared goal, but we must first carefully consider everything in order to make the right decisions. There is no deadline set, but the project could start in 2027.”
On February 23, 2025, President Paul Kagame held talks with David Lappartient, head of the International Cycling Union (UCI), which focused on how the Tour du Rwanda could be elevated to the first ‘World Tour’ category.
The World Tour is the highest level of cycling competition, as it is attended by the world’s top teams and top athletes.
Current races at this level include the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, UAE Tour and Vuelta a España, which are attended by 18 of the world’s top teams and top athletes.
The Tour du Rwanda is currently at level 2.1 after reaching this level in 2019 from 2.2. Eligible teams include those in the first category ‘World Tour’ not exceeding 50% of all teams participating in the race, teams in the second category ‘Pro-Continental teams’ and national teams.
The next Tour du Rwanda is scheduled to take place from February 22 to March 1, 2026.
