UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships (28-31/08/2025) officially presented in Ronse
More than 400 para-cyclists, and their support teams, from at least 45 countries will gather in Ronse at the end of August for the most important para-cycling road event of the year: the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships. The world's best para-cyclists will compete for the rainbow jersey in thirteen different sport classes for men and women. Riding different types of bikes based on their functional abilities, they will tackle a course reminiscent of the Flemish cycling classics.
As the home of cycling, we are proud to add the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Ronse to our list of cycling championships this year. Flanders is a true sporting nation and it is our ambition to attract even more top sporting events. At the same time, these championships are an important stimulus for the further development of Para-cycling and functional cycling for people with disabilities.
On Thursday and Friday, the time trials will be held on a flat 11.6 km circuit. Some of the road races on Saturday and Sunday will take place on a tough 15.4 km course with the Kruisstraat (finish of the 1988 UCI Road World Championships) and the Hotond (annual fixture in the Ronde van Vlaanderen) as the decisive factors. In the classes for riders with the most severe impairments, the road race course is the same as that for the time trial. On Sunday evening, the event will conclude with the handcycling mixed team relay on a 2.2 km loop in the centre of Ronse. Riders will be able to train on the course on the afternoon of Wednesday 27 August.
Strong cooperation between organisers, city, government and cycling partners
Isomundo, which has organised an annual UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup for the past decade, and sports federation G-sport Vlaanderen are joining forces to organise the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships. With the support of Event Flanders, the city of Ronse, Sport Vlaanderen, Belgian Cycling and Cycling Vlaanderen, this event should not only be a sporting success, but also aims to create an unprecedented image and a lasting social impact in Ronse and Flanders. “We want to organise a wonderful edition of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships, both in terms of sport and extra-sport. This should increase the appeal of G-sport and create a positive social impact for people with disabilities in Flanders”, said Steven Van Beylen, manager of G-sport Vlaanderen, on behalf of the organising committee.
After the European Running Championships earlier this month, the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in August are the second elite sports event with which Flanders wants to present itself internationally as a state-of-the-art host.
Annick De Ridder, Flemish Minister for Mobility, Public Works, Ports and Sport: “As the home of cycling, we are proud to add the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Ronse to our list of cycling championships this year, following previous successes such as the 2021 World Championships, the 2024 European Championships and the 2024 World Championships Gravel. Flanders is a true sporting nation and it is our ambition to attract even more top sporting events. At the same time, these championships are an important stimulus for the further development of Para-cycling and functional cycling for people with disabilities.”
Melissa Depraetere, Minister-President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister for Housing, Energy and Climate, Tourism and Youth: “Flanders has a lot of top talent when it comes to Para sports. We proved this once again last year during the Paralympic Games and at the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in Zurich. As minister, I am therefore proud that this event will bring the incredible achievements of Para athletes to Flanders. And that we are also highlighting the importance of accessibility in our hospitality industry and tourism. A top event that will give a boost to our athletes and our tourism. The race is ours!”
The city of Ronse has made a conscious decision to host the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships after hosting UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships in the past (in 1963 and 1988). Mayor Ignace Michaux: “We are delighted and proud to welcome the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships to Ronse. After two unforgettable World Championships and several Belgian Championships in the past, the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships mark a new chapter in our rich cycling history. These championships are also a wonderful opportunity to connect the residents, local businesses, visitors, athletes and their coaches. We are therefore keen to invest in an attractive programme of events. With its rich heritage and unique landscape, Ronse is the perfect location for the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.”
The Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) is enthusiastic about this event. Todd Fraser, UCI Para-cycling Manager:“Belgium has a long-standing tradition in para-cycling, having hosted rounds of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Cup almost every year over the past decade. Flanders, known for its successful organisation of major cycling events, adds further strength to this legacy. With clear ambitions to live up to and go beyond the high expectations of athletes and fans, the Local Organising Committee is well on track to deliver an exceptional edition of the UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships.”
More information
The UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships are organised by the UCI, Isomundo and G-sport Vlaanderen.
The Flemish government is joining forces with the city of Ronse via EventFlanders to make an event of this scale possible. EventFlanders operates within the framework of VISITFLANDERS, but is a collaboration between VISITFLANDERS, the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Culture, Youth and Media, and Sport Vlaanderen.
