Belgian cycling team Soudal Quick-Step will not participate in the Tour of Rwanda (2.1) due to the intense tensions in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The team confirmed the news to Belga on Friday following a report by Het Nieuwsblad. This year’s Tour of Rwanda, now in its 17th edition, will take place from 23 February to 2 March.
On Thursday, organisers confirmed that the race would proceed and reassured that the situation within Rwanda remains stable despite escalating tensions between capitals Kinshasa and Kigali.
These tensions have risen since the M23 armed group and its Rwandan allies took control of Goma, in the DRC’s east, and continued to advance in the region.
Belgian teams Soudal Quick-Step and Lotto had already hinted at reconsidering their participation. The ‘Wolfpack’, set to field a mixed squad of development and WorldTour riders, decided to withdraw due to the proximity of the race route to the conflict zone.
Soudal Quick-Step is the team of Belgian star rider Remco Evenepoel, who had a stellar season last year, winning two Olympic gold medals. But the year ended badly as the double-Olympic Champion suffered a big crash when he was hit by the opening door of a postal van whilst training nearby Brussels. He is currently recovering.
is a two-time UCI world champion (2023 and 2024), Olympic champion (2024), and European champion (2019).
Last year, Soudal Quick-Step secured a stage win at the Tour of Rwanda with young rider Junior Lecerf, who finished fourth in the general classification. Instead, the team is expected to participate in Gran Camino, a Spanish stage race (2.1) taking place from 26 February to 2 March.
Last week, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) stated it is not currently considering relocating the World Championships, scheduled from 21 to 28 September in Kigali.
The World Championships in Rwanda will mark the first time the event is held in Africa.
