The 17th Tour du Rwanda was won by French rider Fabien Doubey of TotalEnergies without having to compete in the KCC-KCC final stage, which was canceled in the middle of the race because of poor weather.
After the rain hit some areas of the City of Kigali, the organizers first announced a change to the routes that were supposed to be used in the final stage. Athletes therefore competed over a shorter distance in four circuits when they determined the race would not be held on a huge circuit.
Riders began using the routes beginning at the Kigali Convention Center when the routes that passed Nyabugogo, Norvege, Kimisagara, and Kwa Mutwe were taken off the circuit. The Gishushu RDB (running route) MTN headquarters, Kabuga ka Nyarutarama, UTEXRWA road, Tennis Club road, and Frontier-Gold Club KBAC-RIB headquarters, SOS, MINAGRI, Meridien, Kimicanga, Kimihurura, (Kwa Mignone), Stone Road, Kabindi, KABC, and KCC (End).
The final stage, which was 72 kilometers long, was supposed to start at 12 PM, but heavy rain started around 11:30 AM. Conditions deteriorated throughout the first lap, even though the initial rain was not severe enough to call off the race.
The rain got worse as the peloton got closer to the third lap, and UCI officials had to call off the race in accordance with UCI rules. As a result, the stage was declared void, and the Stage 6 general classification was used to calculate the final results.
As Sunday’s final stage approached, Doubey was in the lead in the general classification. Based on the outcomes of the final six stages, including Saturday’s Stage 6, which went from Nyanza to Canal Olympia (Rebero), he was declared the winner.
The 31-year-old racer’s triumph makes him the oldest rider to win the event in Rwanda.
Rwandan cyclist Vainqueur Masengesho (Team Rwanda) put on a good showing at the Tour du Rwanda 2025, finishing seventh overall, 51 seconds behind race winner Doubey.
Other Rwandan riders that received recognition include Samuel Niyonkuru of Kenyan Team Amani, who was named the best escape rider, and Shemu Nsengiyumva of Java-InovoTec, who was named the best climber.
