Cycling star Kabelo Makatile this week departed for Rwanda to join a three-week high-performance training camp in preparation for the historic 2025 UCI Road World Championships.
The championships, scheduled for September 21–28 in Kigali, will be staged in Africa for the very first time, making it a landmark event on the global cycling calendar.
Makatile, who last raced in the Nedbank Cycle Challenge in Namibia in April, told Newsday Sports that the camp offers him a crucial chance to sharpen his form and adjust ahead of the competition.
“I will be leaving early for the championships to enter into a pre-event camp in Rwanda,” Makatile said in an exclusive interview.
The training camp is part of a joint initiative by the International Cycling Union (UCI) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). It brings together some of the continent’s top cyclists, with the programme launched in June 2022 to help African riders prepare for the 2025 World Championships.
“I hope the camp will help me to acclimate and have better training with other riders from across the continent,” Makatile said.
“Again, all through the winter season I have been training here at home without serious intensive races, and it will be helpful if I get one while in Rwanda before the championships.”
Although limited by the lack of competitive races in recent months, the 26-year-old remains upbeat. He has been working consistently on home soil to maintain his form and fitness for the biggest stage of his career so far.
“I am doing all I can here at home to get myself ready and represent the country well. It is a great achievement to compete in world championships, especially because this is the first time Africa will host it. I want to do well and motivate upcoming riders,” he said.
Makatile’s inclusion in the Rwanda camp highlights his growing reputation as one of the region’s top cycling prospects. Supported by the UCI-ANOCA programme, he now joins a select group of African riders gearing up to make history on home ground.
Summary
- The championships, scheduled for September 21–28 in Kigali, will be staged in Africa for the very first time, making it a landmark event on the global cycling calendar.
- Makatile, who last raced in the Nedbank Cycle Challenge in Namibia in April, told Newsday Sports that the camp offers him a crucial chance to sharpen his form and adjust ahead of the competition.
- “Again, all through the winter season I have been training here at home without serious intensive races, and it will be helpful if I get one while in Rwanda before the championships.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
