The starting gun is set to fire on the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships (28 August-1 September NZ time) in Ronse, Belgium starting tomorrow (Thursday). We preview the competition which is expected to attract more than 400 riders from more than 45 nations.
The pinnacle road event in 2025 for Para cyclists takes place on the iconic roads that also feature as part of the Flanders classics – a series of historic one-day able bodied cycling race held in the Flemish region of Belgium. The competition includes four types of bike; a regular road bike or cycle, a handbike, a tricycle and tandem with 13 sport classes for both men and women who will compete in both time trial and bunch road races.
The Time Trials will take place over a 11.6km loop as well as the H1 and H2 (handcycle) and T1 and T2 (tricycle) Road Race events. All other Road Race classifications compete over a 15.4km loop.
Which Kiwis will be competing in the event
Paralympian #221 Rory Mead and #222 Nicole Murray will be proudly flying the Kiwi flag in Ronse. Rory, a two-time Paralympian, competes in the Men’s H2 Time Trial and Men’s H2 Road Race, buoyed by winning a bronze medal in the latter event at the UCI Para-cycling World Cup in Ostend-Bruges in May. The US-based Kiwi hand cyclist, who sustained a spinal cord injury in a motocross accident in 2014, is a consistent international performer, finishing fourth in the Men’s H1-2 Road Race and fifth in the Men’s H2 Time Trial at Paris 2024.
Nicole memorably won a bronze medal in the Women’s C5 3000m Individual Pursuit at Paris 2024 and is a proven performer on the world stage. Competing in both the Women’s C5 Time Trial and Women’s C5 Road Race in Ronse she has also carved out some impressive results on the road scene. The left-hand amputee also placed fourth in the Women’s C5 Time Trial on the road at Paris 2024 and will look to be in the mix across both events this week.
When do the Kiwis compete
Rory, 38, opens his account at 2.15am (NZ time) on Friday 29 August in the 11.6km Men’s H2 Time Trial. He also competes in the Men’s H2 Road Race (46.6km) on Saturday 30 August from 7pm. Nicole makes her bow in Ronse at midnight on Saturday 30 August in the 23.2km Women’s C3 Time Trial. The 32-year-old Kiwi then climaxes her campaign at 9pm on Sunday August 31 in the 77km Women’s C5 Road Race.
How can I follow the action
More on how to follow the 2025 UCI Para-cycling Road World Championships and livestream details go here
