'We have lots of questions' - Belgium delays Rwanda World Championships visit but UCI insist cycling is an 'ambassador for peace'

The Belgian Cycling Federation has delayed its  reconnaissance trip to Rwanda for this year's Road World Championships, amidst growing concerns about security for the September event due to the rapidly developing conflict in the Goma region of the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. 

"We have lots of questions," a top BCF official, Nathalie Clauwaert, told Dernière Heure, "and we're not the only ones."

"There were already lots of doubt about the quality of the accommodation there. But right now, our concerns are of a very different nature."

"The most important thing is to be able to be certain of our riders' security and all the support staff." 

The closest border of the Goma region is 150 kilometres away from the Rwanda capital, Kigali, where the 2025 World Championships are due to take place from September 21 - 29. 

In the short-term there is also concern over the Tour du Rwanda, set to take place at the end of next month and which goes very close to the border with Goma. A Rwanda government spokesman recently told the BBC troops had been deployed to the Goma frontier area as a security measure.

Soudal-QuickStep and Lotto have planned to send teams to the event, but told Dernière Heure they were monitoring the situation closely.

According to the BBC, the M23 rebel group are currently assaulting the city of Goma, and already hold the airport and much of the regional capital. The United Nations is amongst those saying there is evidence Rwanda backs the M23 uprising, but Rwanda denies giving the rebels direct military report.

The Belgian Federation has requested a meeting with UCI officials during the cyclocross World Championships in Lievín. On Friday the UCI moved quickly to play down any concerns. 

"The ongoing conflict is confined to the DRC, and Rwanda remains entirely safe for tourism and business," the UCI said in a brief statement as the UCI Management Committee was held at the Cyclo-cross World Championships. 

"We hope for a swift and peaceful resolution of the situation. The UCI wishes to emphasise that sport, and cycling in particular, are powerful ambassadors for peace, friendship, and solidarity."

On Friday the Belgian media suggested the UCI has a 'Plan B' in place if tensions in Rwanda make it unsafe to hold the World Championships in central Africa. 

Martigny in Switzerland was due to hold the World Championships in 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic erupted and Italy hosted a reduced event. 

In theory, Martigny could replace Rwanda and so mean the  World Championships are held close to the UCI Headquarters in Aigle, not far from Geneva.  However, the UCI tried to shut down that idea.

"Following the spread of rumours on this subject, the UCI clarifies that no relocation of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships from Rwanda to Switzerland or any other location is planned at this time," the UCI said.

However, Gert Van Goolen, the head of technical organisers Golazo said everyone involved is closely watching events in Rwanda and Congo.

“The UCI is closely monitoring the situation in Rwanda and we are listening to them,” he told the De Afspraak television programme in Belgium.  

“It is possible that the war in eastern Congo will have an influence. The conflict has been going on in that region for a long time, it has only escalated very recently. We still have to see how it will develop.”