TIME TRIALS

The first race at the first African Road World Championships is the elite women's time trial, which takes place on the morning of Sunday, 21 September, followed by the elite men that afternoon.

- Adam Becket, James Shrubsall, Tom Davidson

Both start at the BK Arena, which is ordinarily used for basketball and volleyball. The routes are being referred to, euphemistically, as sporting courses. With 460m of climbing across 31.2km for the women, and 680m in 40.6km for the men, this is not a pure time trial specialist's terrain. Filippo Ganna and Chloé Dygert won't be able to outpower their way to victory.

Unusually for a time trial route, this one includes a cobbled section. The women's race features ascents of the Côte de Nyanza from both sides, first from the north, 2.5km at 5.8%, before 4.1km at 3.1%. There is then a long, reasonably straight descent towards the cobbles, which come before the Côte de Kimihurura, 1.3km at 6.1%, before a finish at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Britain's Anna Henderson will surely be in contention, alongside the favourite Demi Vollering. 2024's outgoing champion, Grace Brown, is now retired.

The men's race is 9km longer than the women's, thanks to a longer return from the Nyanza climb, with one further climb, the Côte de Péage, 2km at 6%. This comes before the cobbles and Kimihurura, meaning the men have a more trickier pacing strategy towards the end.

It will be the hilliest time trial since Bergen, Norway, in 2017, when the race finished up a steep, hair-pinned climb. With ups and downs throughout this year's race, it is one for a time triallist who has a punch - Tadej Pogačar or defending champion Remco Evenepoel.

Mixed relay TTT