Cycling New Zealand has confirmed the selection of five riders for the 2025 UCI Road World Championships to be staged in Rwanda in September.

It is the first time the championships have been staged in Africa with several federations expected to have limited participation with associated high costs, logistical complexity and security considerations.

There are three World Tour elite women named, in the Paris Olympic Games pair of Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek) and Kim Cadzow (EF Education-Oatly), along with Ella Wyllie (Liv AlUla Jayco).

They will be joined by under-23 male riders, Auckland’s Redmond Connolly and Christchurch’s Nate Pringle.

Connolly, a Massey University graduate, has ridden for UCI Continental teams in Belgium and this year in China while Pringle, the New Zealand time trial champion, is on the Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe Continental team.

With the support of Cycling New Zealand, the Road, Track and Cyclocross Council made the difficult decision not to enter junior riders for the championships, considering the complexities with the location and concerns over health, safety and logistics.

The championships will be staged from 21 to 28 September.

The Team is:

Female Elite: Kim Cadzow (EF Education-Oatly, Wanaka), Niamh Fisher-Black (Lidl-Trek, Nelson), Ella Wyllie (Liv AlUla Jayco, Auckland).

Male Elite: No applicants.

Female Under-23: No selection made.

Male Under-23: Redmond Connolly (Wuzhishan SCOM MVMT, Auckland), Nate Pringle (Red Bull-BORA-Hansgrohe Rookies, Christchurch).