Eighty-five riders from 16 countries, including 18 Rwandans, are set to compete in the 2025 edition of the Rwandan Epic, a mountain bike race scheduled from this Monday to Friday, December 5, 2025.
This will be the fifth edition of the event. The race will open in Kigali with an 8.8-kilometer prologue on Monday, starting and finishing at Fazenda Sengha before moving to the Northern Province for four of the five stages.
Race director Simon De Schutter said the event has already achieved its initial goal of positioning Rwanda as a global destination for mountain biking. “When we launched the Rwandan Epic, we had two main goals. The first was to make Rwanda known worldwide as a cycling nation—specifically for mountain biking. We can proudly say we have achieved this, as riders from across the world now appreciate Rwanda as a mountain biking destination,” he said.
The competition begins today at 10:30 a.m. with the first stage, “Mont Kigali,” covering 8.8 kilometers with a 259-meter elevation gain. On Tuesday, riders will take on the 76.1-kilometer “Mont Kabuye” stage, starting at 9:30 a.m. from Nyirangarama and finishing at ARCC with an elevation gain of 1,846 meters.
According to FERWACY First Vice President Bigango Valentin, the federation and other stakeholders have recognized the race’s potential to significantly benefit the country. “This competition can be very beneficial to Rwanda. Although the first four editions did not involve us as much, this year we are fully engaged because we now see the opportunities the Rwandan Epic brings,” he said. He added that the federation is working with teams to strengthen mountain biking and promote the race so that it continues to grow. “At the pace it is developing, it could become an international event within three years and possibly reach the level of the Tour du Rwanda,” he noted.
The third stage, “Twin Lakes,” will take place on December 3, covering 52.9 kilometers with an 883-meter elevation gain from ARCC to Musanze town. The fourth stage, “Volcanoes,” is scheduled for December 4, spanning 29.8 kilometers with a 514-meter elevation gain, starting and finishing at the Kwita Izina grounds in Kinigi. The race will conclude on Friday, December 5, with the “Buranga” stage, a 77.3-kilometer ride with a 1,392-meter elevation gain from Nemba to Shyorongi.
Participants will compete in three categories; men above 18, women above 18 and mixture of men and women above 18. solo riders who wants to experience and have funRwandan Epic 2025 Brings Together 85 Riders, Showcasing Rwanda’s 18 Representatives are also accepted though they will not be rewarded
