The 2026 UCI Road World Championships concluded on Sunday, September 27, in Montréal, Canada, after eight days of competition that brought together cyclists from around the world.
The championships, which began on September 20, ended with the men’s elite road race, held over a demanding 273.4-kilometre course.
Brandon McNulty of the United States claimed the title after completing the race in 6 hours, 17 minutes and 4 seconds. Britain’s Michael Matthews finished second, while Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel took third place among the 58 riders who completed the race.
Rwanda did not have a representative in the men’s elite road race at the 2026 championships, the 99th edition of the UCI Road World Championships.
Rwanda was represented by 15 cyclists across several categories, but none managed to finish among the leading positions in their respective events.
In the women’s elite individual time trial on the opening day, Xaveline Nirere finished 37th and Diane Ingabire 38th among 47 riders who completed the race.
Rwanda had no competitor in the men’s elite individual time trial.
The second day featured the individual time trials for under-23 riders. Jazilla Mwamikazi finished 39th in the women’s event, while Mariate Byukusenge placed 43rd among the 52 riders who finished.
Kevin Nshutiraguma was Rwanda’s sole representative in the men’s under-23 individual time trial. He finished 53rd among 67 riders who completed the race.
The third day included the mixed relay team time trial, in which Rwanda did not participate, as well as the junior individual time trials.
In the women’s junior event, Yvonne Masengesho finished 45th and Donatha Akimana 51st among 57 finishers. In the men’s junior race, Brian Ishimwe placed 57th and Pacifique Byusa 64th among the 69 riders who started.
Wednesday, September 23, was a rest day for the cyclists, while the UCI held its General Assembly.
Competition resumed the following day with the women’s under-23 and men’s junior road races, both covering 134 kilometres.
Mwamikazi and Byukusenge both started the women’s under-23 race but neither managed to reach the finish. Rwanda’s junior men, Brian Ishimwe and Jonathan Muhawenimana, also failed to complete their race.
The sixth day featured the men’s under-23 road race over 174.2 kilometres and the women’s junior road race over 80.4 kilometres.
Nshutiraguma was Rwanda’s only rider in the men’s under-23 race but did not finish. In the women’s junior event, Masengesho and Akimana also failed to complete the course.
The elite women’s road race, held over 180.1 kilometres, was the main event on the penultimate day.
Nirere and Ingabire both started the race but were unable to finish.
Rwanda’s campaign therefore ended without a notable result, with the team’s overall performance showing little improvement compared with its showing at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships held in Kigali.
