Rwandan Epic 2025 kicked off on Monday, 21 October, with Rwandan-Dutch duo Bukhari Banzi and Dutch rider Louis van Zeeland, excelling in the Duo Men category.

The Team TCLA1 riders prevailed in the prologue stage, clocking 26 minutes and 26 seconds on an 8.8km route around Mount Kigali.

The German-Belgian duo of Daniel Gathof, who won the 2023 Rwandan Epic along with Bart Classens, finished second, using 19 seconds behind Banzi and van Zeeland, while Germany’s Lukas Baum and Kenya’s Dan Kiptala came in third spot, using 21 seconds off the leaders.

The riders set off at Fazenda Sengha around 10:30 a.m., on a route featuring 259 metres of climbing, and there were three categories including Duo Men teams, Duo Women teams, Duo Mixed teams, and Solo teams.

In Duo Women category, Dutch rider Elodie Kuijper and Martha Ntakirutimana from Rwanda clinched stage one in 36 minutes and three seconds.

In Duo Mixed category, South African duo Bianca Haw and Wade Young surged to the first stage victory, using 32 minutes and 42 seconds.

The race resumes on Tuesday, December 2, with the second stage, a 76.1-km circuit, beginning at Nyirangarama in Rulindo district and finishing at the Africa Rising Cycling Centre in Musanze (ARCC Musanze) in Musanze district.

The Rwanda Epic, which is happening for the fifth time, is a multi-stage cycling event that draws top international and local riders in mountain biking races.

Known for its challenging courses and stunning landscapes, the race showcases Rwanda’s exceptional natural beauty while promoting sports and tourism across the region.

Rwandan Epic 2025

Photo: Dutch rider Elodie Kuijper and Martha Ntakirutimana from Rwanda won the first stage in the Duo Women category.