10-Time US Champion Cyclist Rahsaan Bahati to Coach Ghana National Junior Team in Kigali, Rwanda
Los Angeles, California — September 17, 2025: For the first time since its inception in 1921, the UCI World Cycling Championships will take place on the African continent in Kigali, Rwanda, and the Bahati Foundation and Ghana Cycling Federation are proud to be part of this historic moment for the continent.
The Bahati Foundation, through its African Cycling Initiative (ACI), is supporting and coaching the Ghana Cycling Federation’s National Junior Team as they compete on the world stage in Kigali, Rwanda, this September 21 – 28, 2025. This marks a significant milestone for African cycling as well as for the continent and underscores the growing commitment to developing talent, infrastructure, and opportunities for cyclists across the continent.
The Ghana Cycling Federation will send three of their top-tier junior riders: Farrahkan,Emmanuel, and Victor, who will compete in the UCI Junior Worlds, which includes Men Junior Individual Time Trials and Men Junior Road Race.
Visit https://www.uci.org/competition-hub/2025-uci-road-world-championships/7mnrx8NLAbor8iWnlpCuwe to see the schedule for all the World cycling Championships events.
“To see the UCI World Championships finally come to Africa is an incredible moment — not just for cycling, but for the future of youth sports across the continent. Coaching Ghana’s
National Junior Team is a privilege, and I believe these young athletes represent the next
generation of global cycling talent, said Rahsaan Bahati, 10-time U.S. National Champion and Founder of the Bahati Foundation: Our mission at the Bahati Foundation is to inspire and empower youth, and there is no better stage to do that than here in Kigali.”
Already known for its annual Tour du Rwanda, this country in the Great Rift Valley of East Africa will now welcome Junior, Under 23, and Elite athletes racing for the prestigious rainbow jersey. It isn’t for nothing that Rwanda is nicknamed the “land of a thousand hills”, and for many riders it will be their first experience riding on this challenging terrain. These UCI Road World Championships are another step in the globalization of cycling and come at a time when African riders are increasingly making international headlines.
“This partnership with the Bahati Foundation gives our junior riders the technical expertise,mentorship, and inspiration they need to perform at the highest level. The UCI World Championships in Kigali represent a turning point for African cycling, and we are proud to be part of it” indicated Shaaban Muhammad, Secretary General, Ghana Cycling Federation.
About UCI Road World Championships
The history of the UCI World Cycling Championships spans over a century, beginning with the first Track World Championships in 1893 in Chicago. After the International Cycling Association (ICA) held these events, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) was founded in 1900. Separate professional road championships followed in 1927, while amateur races were held from 1921, with the categories eventually merging in the 1990s to create open, elite competitions.
About the Ghana Cycling Federation
The history of the Ghana Cycling Federation (GCF) is marked by pioneer Paa Adjavon, who introduced cycling as a sport in Ghana in 1953 after returning from a military course in the UK, where he bought his first bicycle. More recently, the GCF has focused on modernizing its administration, including a significant constitutional review in 2022 to create a more inclusive management committee structure and a commitment to international participation, with aspirations for Olympic qualification by 2028.
About the Bahati Foundation African Cycling Initiative
The Bahati Foundation African Cycling Initiative is a multi-year effort to develop cycling talent, capital, infrastructure, and education programs across Africa, specifically West African countries. Working in collaboration with national federations in Ghana, Burkina Faso, Lesotho, and Senegal, the initiative provides:
● Coaching and training camps for junior and elite riders
● Equipment donations, including bikes, helmets, and tools
● Sports medicine testing and performance tracking
● Mentorship and leadership programs
● Opportunities for international competition and exposure
This initiative is part of the Bahati Foundation’s broader Road to LA28 Campaign, which uses cycling as a tool to inspire health, education, and opportunity globally — leading up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. www.bahatifoundation.org