Kigali, Rwanda – 29 September 2025
The streets of Kigali came alive over the past eight days as Rwanda etched its name into cycling history, becoming the first African nation to host the UCI Road World Championships. Under the banner “Riding New Heights”, more than 900 riders from over 100 nations converged on the Rwandan capital, with 36 African countries represented in a week of racing that blended world-class competition with the continent’s growing cycling culture.
For South Africa, a team of 15 riders lined up across the Elite, U23, and Junior categories, carrying the nation’s colours on a demanding course that showcased both promise and resilience.
Elite Men: Munton and Downes Step Up Against the Best
Byron Munton and Brandon Downes took on the men’s Elite Individual Time Trial, testing themselves against Belgium’s Remco Evenepoel, who powered to gold. Munton clocked 54:51.78 (+5:05.75) for 20th place, while Downes finished 27th with 57:09.27 (+7:23.24).
Munton later lined up for the grueling Elite Road Race, where only 18% of the men’s field finished. Despite not making the final cut, his performance drew praise for the riders he managed to drop. “Byron dropped World Tour names — people who have won Tour de France stages,” South Africa’s team manager Brendon Lowson reflected. “As a performance, it was absolutely incredible to watch. He’s now firmly on the radar of managers and coaches. The amount of talking going on in the paddock about him was incredible to hear.”
Elite Women: Moolman Leads the Charge
Veteran Ashleigh Moolman showcased her pedigree, finishing 29th in the Elite Women’s Road Race, +6:26 behind Canadian champion Magdeleine Vallieres. Teammates Maddie Le Roux and S’Annara Grove fought hard but could not beat the sweeping cut-off.
This year also marked a milestone for women’s cycling, as the U23 riders contested their own road race for the first time. “Usually they race with the elite field, but this time it was separate,” the Lowson explained. “That made it even tougher — less wheels, less slipstream, and only the strongest could prevail.”
U23 Performances: Signs of Progress
South Africa’s U23 squad impressed against a stacked international field.
- Men’s ITT:
- Pedri Crause claimed 19th place (+3:31.15).
- Joshua Dike was close behind in 23rd (+4:21.51).
- Road Race:
Of the four riders, Blaine Kieck was the only South African to beat the time cut, finishing 38th (+12:17) behind Italy’s Mark Finn, who won in 3:57:27. - Women’s U23:
Sonica Klopper placed 34th in the time trial before being swept up in the road race.
Juniors: Learning Curves on the Global Stage
In the Junior Women’s events, Megan Botha and Errin Mackridge finished 35th and 42nd in the ITT but were eliminated in the road race.
For the Junior Men, Josh Johnson delivered South Africa’s standout result of the age group, finishing 25th in the ITT (+1:47.77). Alongside Alexander Erasmus and Matthew Horter, he gained crucial road race experience against the world’s best.
Manager’s Verdict: “A Fantastic Showing”
Reflecting on the week, Lowson, one of the most passionate team managers whose social media is filled with support for his riders, praised the South African contingent’s resilience and competitiveness. “I think we performed fantastic. The fact that we participated in all the races — across genders, time trials, and road races — and had almost a top 40 in everything was just fantastic,” he said.
He also highlighted the respect the riders earned in Kigali: “Even Colombia came past us, putting thumbs up and saying ‘well done South Africa.’ When you look at how tough the course was and how many actually finished, we can definitely come back with our heads held high. It was really awesome.”
Africa’s Milestone and What It Means
The 2025 Championships were more than a race—they were a statement that Africa has the passion, infrastructure, and talent to host cycling’s pinnacle event. Rwanda’s successful staging of the Worlds proved historic, and the performances of South Africa’s riders, particularly in the U23 and Elite women’s categories, highlighted both progress and the challenges still ahead.
With riders from 10 different nations winning across the 12 events, the diversity of cycling’s global elite was on full display. For South Africa, the Championships provided both a platform to measure themselves against the best and a springboard for the future.
For More South African Sports News: Sport South Africa Home Page
