It’s that time of the year when Australia’s top cyclists cast off their pro team jerseys to unite under the green and gold. The ARA Australian Cycling Team has begun arriving in Rwanda for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, where the rainbow bands are up for grabs.
Here’s our guide to next week’s World Championships.
About Kigali and the World Championships
This will be a historic moment for Rwanda, its capital Kigali, and indeed the whole continent – marking the first time the UCI Road World Championships have been held in Africa.
It’s also the first time a standalone road race will be held for under-23 women.
Four Aussies, including Talia Appleton, will compete in the first standalone U23 women’s road race at Worlds.
As for the courses: they are demanding. Rwanda is known as ‘the land of a thousand hills’, and the race routes don’t hold back.
The local circuit includes the cobbled climb of the Cote de Kimihurura (1.3km, 6.3%), which then keeps rising to the finish.
The course profiles for the elite women’s (above) and elite men’s (below) road races. (Image: UCI)
For the elite women, it adds up to 3,350m of climbing over 164km. The elite men will also take on an extended section to Mont Kigali (5.9km, 6.9%) and the Mur de Kigali (0.4km, 11%) to bring their total elevation gain to an intimidating 5,475m over 267km.
The time trials will be just as tough – they all finish with the same cobbled climb.
Australian team updates
There have been three changes to Australia’s original team announced last month.
Talia Appleton has been added to the under-23 women’s road race after her outstanding podium result at the Tour de l’Avenir.
Two riders have withdrawn: Neve Bradbury (illness) and under-23 rider Jack Ward (injury).
Australia’s first rider in action will be Brodie Chapman, in Sunday’s elite women’s time trial.
Brodie Chapman will ride the ITT, TTT and road race.
She’ll be followed in the men’s time trial by Jay Vine – fresh from a superb Vuelta a España – and Luke Plapp, who has spent the last few weeks preparing at altitude.
For the mixed relay team time trial, these three will be joined by Amanda Spratt, Lauretta Hanson and Michael Matthews as they attempt to defend Australia’s world title.
Then, tune in next weekend for the elite road races, where Alex Manly and Ruby Roseman-Gannon link up for the women’s race, and an in-form Michael Storer and Jai Hindley are among those taking on the men’s race.
Luke Plapp also has all three events on his schedule, starting with Sunday’s individual time trial.
How to watch
Stan Sport will have full coverage, including the junior and under-23 races.
Make sure you follow the ARA Australian Cycling Team on Instagram and Facebook.
Event schedule (AEST)Sunday, 21 September
Women Elite Individual Time Trial – 6:00pm
Men Elite Individual Time Trial – 9:35pm
Monday, 22 September
Women U23 Individual Time Trial – 6:25pm
Alli AndersonFelicity Wilson-Haffenden
Men U23 Individual Time Trial – 9:25pm
Zachary MarriageHamish McKenzieTuesday, 23 September
Women Junior Individual Time Trial – 6:35pm
Hannah GianattiTully Schweitzer
Men Junior Individual Time Trial – 9:50pm
Wednesday, 24 September
Team Time Trial Mixed Relay – 8:20pm
Michael MatthewsLuke PlappJay VineBrodie ChapmanLauretta HansonAmanda SprattThursday, 25 September
Women U23 Road Race – 8:55pm
Alli AndersonTalia AppletonMackenzie CouplandFelicity Wilson-HaffendenFriday, 26 September
Men Junior Road Race – 3:50pm
Max GooldAlexander HewesFletcher MedwayLucas Stevenson
Men U23 Road Race – 7:50pm
Matthew GreenwoodZachary MarriageHamish McKenzieSaturday, 27 September
Women Junior Road Race – 4:10pm
Hannah GianattiNeve ParslowTully Schweitzer
Women Elite Road Race – 7:55pm
Brodie ChapmanLauretta HansonAlexandra ManlyRuby Roseman-GannonAmanda SprattSunday, 28 September
Men Elite Road Race – 5:35pm
Chris HamiltonChris HarperJai HindleyMichael MatthewsLuke PlappCallum ScotsonMichael StorerJay Vine
Photos: Getty Images