North Americans Show Grit at Challenging Rwanda Road Worlds
Kigali, Rwanda – Despiteโ brutal climbs and โchallenging โฃaltitude, North american riders โdemonstrated resilience at the 2025 UCI โRoad World Championships in โRwanda, with standout performances from young Americanโ talent and steadfast efforts from the โฃU.S. and Canadian teams.The championships, held on a demanding course in Kigali, saw Great Britain’s Harry hudson claim the elite men’s โคsolo victory, while the elite women’s race was won by another rider not mentioned in this article.
The U.S. elite men’s team faced a especially tough race, arriving without key riders Matteo Jorgenson, Brandon McNulty, andโข Neilson Powless. Of the five Americans who started – โKevin Vermaerke, Larry Warbasse, Quinn โขSimmons, luke Lamperti, and Will Barta – โขonly โฃVermaerke โmanaged to reach the finish, battlingโฃ through โขthe relentless climbs toโ secure 23rd place.The altitudeโฃ and course proved decisive, shredding the pelotonโ and leaving Vermaerke โas the sole U.S. finisher.
In the U23 men’s race,American rider Drake demonstrated impressive form,bridgingโค toโข an early move and extending the gap to nearly โฃtwo โminutes before ultimately finishingโข strongly.His performance throughout the week marked him โas a revelation at the championships, particularly given his recent entry onto the junior circuit.
Onโ the women’s side, Chloรฉ โdygert of the U.S. persevered through pain to finish 17th in the elite women’s road race. The 165kmโฃ circuit, featuring 3,350 meters of climbing,โฃ proved challenging,โค and dygert finished the race visibly exhausted, collapsing after the โฃfinish with a heavily โฃbandaged left leg. Ruth Edwards was distanced earlier in the race, on lap five.
Team USA looks ahead to theโ 2026 World Championships in Montrรฉal, anticipating a more favorable course โขcloser to home.
