Rwanda’s cycling dream reached a new peak on Saturday night as President Paul Kagame was awarded a medal by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) for his contribution to the sport.

The award came during a dinner in Kigali ahead of the final day of the UCI Road World Championships 2025. Attended by international dignitaries including Prince Albert II of Monaco, the event highlighted Rwanda’s transformation into a cycling powerhouse.

President Kagame said the championship brought joy to Kigali’s streets and gave young Rwandans hope to pursue their ambitions. “Sport has the power to unite people, and our youth can now believe in their dreams,” he said.

The championship made history as the first hosted in Africa and the second most attended globally, with cyclists from 108 nations competing. Among the stars in Kigali is Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar, who leads the men’s elite race on Sunday.