Junior and Elite Women Take on Kigali Circuit on the Penultimate Day of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships

On the penultimate day of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships, the Junior and Elite Women took on Kigali’s city circuit, battling heat, elevation, and roaring crowds along the course. 

The Junior Women’s race was the first to roll out this morning from the Kigali Convention Center. Alyssa Sarkisov (North Potomac, Md.; dcdevo Racing Academy), Lidia Cusack (Chevy Chase, Md.; Tofauti Everyone Active Majaco), LilianaEdwards (Washington, D.C.), and Alexis Jaramillo (Colorado Springs, Colo.; Sonic Boom Racing) lined up to take on five laps of the 74km course.

It quickly turned into a race of attrition. The blistering pace over the opening climbs whittled the field down to just 18 riders by the end of lap two, with Sarkisov, Cusack, and Edwards still in the mix. The second half of the race grew more tactical, but many riders were already fatigued from the early efforts.

A decisive move on the final climb left four riders to contest the medals: Paula Ostiz Taco (ESP), Chantal Pegolo (ITA), Anja Grossman (SUI), and Sidney Swierenga (CAN). The race came down to a photo-finish sprint, with Ostiz Taco taking the world title for Spain.

Sarkisov was part of the chase group just behind, holding strong to secure a top-10 finish. Edwards crossed the line in 15th, followed by Cusack in 17th.

1. Paula Ostiz Taco (ESP)

2. Chantal Pegolo (ITA)

3. Anja Grossman (SUI)

10. Alyssa Sarkisov (USA)

15. Liliana Edwards (USA)

17. Lidia Cusack (USA)

40. Alexis Jaramillo (USA)

Chloe Dygert (Brownsburg, Ind.; CANYON//SRAM Racing) and Ruth Edwards (Nederland, Colo.; Human Powered Health Cycling) represented Team USA in the 165km Elite Women’s Road Race at the 2025 UCI Road World Championships. With 3,350 meters of climbing over 11 laps of the Kigali circuit, the stage was set for a demanding day of racing.

The action started early with a breakaway from Julie van de Velde (BEL) and Carina Schrempf (AUT). At the midpoint, Shirin van Anrooij (NED) bridged across, while Italy drove the peloton in pursuit.

The race split on the Kigali Golf Climb, where Van Anrooij surged clear and the peloton strung out behind with 65km remaining. As lap five ended, Dygert remained in the bunch while Edwards lost contact on the final climb. The peloton reeled in van de Velde and Schrempf, but Van Anrooij held a 30-second advantage.

At 56km to go, Van Anrooij was caught, and Mieria Benito Pellicer (ESP) and Noemi Reugg (SUI) counterattacked, building another 30-second lead. With repeated attacks thinning the field, only about 40 riders remained as the leaders pressed on. A chase of seven riders formed and looked dangerous, while Dygert and the peloton sat just over a minute back.

With two laps remaining, the chase group absorbed the leaders, forming a strong 10-rider front group. The peloton, driven by relentless Italian attacks, closed to within 30 seconds, splitting in half. Dygert remained in contention alongside race favorites Pauline Ferrand-Prévot (FRA), Elisa Longo Borghini (ITA), Demi Vollering (NED), and Anna van der Breggen (NED).

The leaders responded, extending their advantage to 1:30. On the cobbled climb with 22km left, the front group fractured, leaving Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (CAN), Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL), and Margarita Victoria Garcia Canellas (ESP) off the front. They were later joined by Antonia Niedermaier (GER) and Riejanne Markus (NED), reforming a lead group of five with 10km to go.

On the final ascent of the Kigali Golf Climb, the leaders split again, returning to the trio of Vallieres, Fisher-Black, and Garcia Canellas. Inside the final 3km, they maintained a 20-second advantage, sealing the medal battle. Vallieres attacked on the last turn before the cobbled climb and powered solo to the finish to claim the world title. Fisher-Black secured silver, with Garcia Canellas taking bronze.

Dygert finished in what remained of the peloton, crossing the line in 17th place.

1. Magdeleine Vallieres Mill (CAN)

2. Niamh Fisher-Black (NZL) 

3. Margarita Victo Garcia Canellas (ESP)

17. Chloe Dygert (USA)

DNF. Ruth Edwards (USA)

USA Cycling’s participation in the World Championships is made possible through the support of dedicated donors and partners. To support the USA Cycling National Team, members can donate to the USA Cycling Foundation here. USA Cycling's supporting partner for this event includes HOVERAir, who shares our mission to elevate the sport and inspire the next generation of cyclists.