LONDON :Rwanda is known as the 'land of a thousand hills', so from a sporting perspective it is fitting that its capital Kigali will stage the first UCI World Road Championships in Africa.

The verdant country has a rich cycling culture and thousands of fans are expected to line the routes of the races that begin this Sunday with the women's and men's elite time trials.

A week later it culminates with cycling superstar Tadej Pogacar favourite for the men's road race on a 265km course being touted as the toughest in the history of the event.

While no doubt a landmark event for cycling and Rwanda, the decision to stage it in a country bordering war-torn Democratic Republic of Congo and which backs the M23 rebel group has brought accusations by rights groups of 'sportswashing'.

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