We break down a wild Women’s Elite Road Race at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali. On a 15 km circuit climbed 11 times with cobbles and altitude, the race turned into pure attrition—and delivered a podium few predicted: Magdeleine Vallieres (CAN) took the rainbow jersey, with Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL) second and Mavi García (ESP) third. Joining us is Kimberly Coats, CEO of Team Africa Rising, to talk course demands, why altitude prep mattered, and what Rwanda’s first-ever African Worlds means for women’s cycling across the continent.

What we cover

• The course: at elevation like Denver or Andorra, with two brutal climbs, long cobbles, no radios = chaos
• How the winning move formed and why the favorites stalled
• Historic junior results from Ethiopia and why development pathways matter
• Travel, logistics, and safety in Rwanda—myths vs. realities
• Altitude camps, iron levels, and why “sleep high” isn’t a magic bullet
• Africa’s momentum: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Benin, and the need for more races
• Looking ahead to Montreal 2026 and LA 2028

Guest Kimberly Coats — CEO, Team Africa Rising (working in African cycling development since 2009)

Chapters (approx.)00:00 Cold open & intro01:00 Guest intro: Kimberly Coats05:05 Race recap & podium10:30 Why the break stuck / favorites hesitated13:30 Altitude, cobbles, and equipment notes17:30 Development realities for African riders23:30 Rwanda hosting: costs, safety, and impact29:30 Maryland Cycling Classic takeaways34:15 Who’s next in African cycling37:00 What we want from future Worlds courses40:20 Access to bikes & infrastructure43:30 Final thoughts & what’s next