Kigali, Rwanda — Driving rain threatened the early starts, but by midday the sun broke through to reveal two commanding performances in the under-23 individual time trials at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships.
At 10:25 AM local time, Great Britain’s Zoe Bäckstedt set off from the Kigali Convention Centre (KCC) to tackle the 22.6 km women’s under-23 time trial. With a smooth, powerful rhythm and flawless line choice through Kigali’s undulating streets, she crossed the line well clear of the competition.
Her ride was a statement of intent—combining raw wattage with technical precision on a route that tested both climbing legs and descending nerve. Bäckstedt’s performance cements her reputation as one of the sport’s most exciting young talents, and she now heads to the road races as the rider to beat.
Jakob Söderqvist Seals Swedish Gold in the Men’s U23 ITT
A few hours later, Sweden’s Jacob Söderqvist claimed the rainbow jersey in the men’s under-23 time trial. The 22-year-old, riding for Lidl–Trek Future Racing, lived up to pre-race billing as the rider to watch. His steady pacing and aerodynamic mastery on Kigali’s technical 31.2 km course delivered a winning margin that reflected both his talent and his growing confidence on the world stage.
Söderqvist’s victory adds to Sweden’s proud time-trial tradition and marks his first UCI world title. In post-race comments, he credited meticulous course recon and the electric atmosphere of Rwanda’s first-ever Worlds on African soil.
