His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco was in Rwanda this weekend to mark a milestone in global sport with the launch of the final events of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, the first edition ever to take place on African soil.
The Prince attended Saturday’s official ceremony alongside UCI President David Lappartient, Rwanda’s Minister of Sports Nelly Mukazayire, and Secretary of State Rwego Ngarambe. During the women’s elite road race medal ceremony, Prince Albert was invited by the UCI to present the podium awards, handing the gold medal to Canada’s Magdeleine Vallière.
On Sunday, the Prince returned to the course to fire the starting pistol for the men’s elite race, which featured Monaco’s own Victor Langellotti in the peloton. Later, joined by Rwandan President Paul Kagame and David Lappartient, he witnessed Slovenia’s Tadej Pogačar secure victory before taking part in the closing medal ceremony in front of thousands of spectators.
The Kigali championships mark a defining moment for cycling’s expansion, symbolising hope and opportunity for future generations across Africa. “This edition is more than a race; it is a breakthrough for global sport,” UCI officials noted, emphasising the event’s legacy.
While in Kigali, Prince Albert also attended the inauguration of the Carlos Takam Academy, a new sports and education centre for African youth founded by former boxing champion Carlos Takam, a close friend of the Principality.
