'We prefer they not ride' - Hushovd advises riders to skip tough Worlds in Rwanda
With one of the toughest world championship events in recent years, many have decided to skip the event, and Uno-X Mobility manager Thor Hushovd has advised his team riders to focus on other goals.
The upcoming UCI World Championships in Rwanda is set to see many big names swerve the event, including Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Mads Pedersen.
Both the road race and time trial are extremely dense in climbing, which is why some of the biggest one-day racers in the peloton have decided to skip the event.
Uno-X Mobility team manager Thor Hushovd echoed his thoughts to Denmark's TV2 on whether the Norwegian riders should focus on the World Championships, recommending that riders should prioritise other races with the demanding preparation required for a course of that difficulty.
“There are many points to be gained in the World Championships if you do well, but it is a tough course, which requires altitude training, preparation and vaccinations in advance, and there are several things that mean you have to sacrifice a lot,” said Hushovd to TV2.
With most of Uno-X's roster comprising Norwegian riders, the decision could significantly impact the national team's ambitions in Rwanda. The recommendation comes after the team has secured 18 victories in 2025 so far, including Jonas Abrahamsen's Tour de France stage win, a first for Uno-X Mobility, and Tobias Halland Johannessen's sixth place in the general classification.
Hushovd, a former winner of the rainbow jersey in the road race in 2010, acknowledged the achievement and prestige for riders representing their national teams and the sensitive nature of discouraging national team participation with what kind of image this creates.
“We can help guide the athletes and say that we prefer that they not ride at the World Championships. One might ask what kind of signal it sends that we say no to representing Norway with the flag on our chest, but the calendar is so long and tight that we have to weigh up the needs.”
Hushovd emphasised that he is not demanding riders from attending but rather advising them to make their decisions on a potential participation, and hasn’t ruled out certain individuals who could be well suited to the climbing-heavy route, such as Johannessen, from appearing in Rwanda.
"We have not said that the riders will not be allowed to participate, but that other things may be more important,” said Hushovd.
“But if there were individual athletes, like Tobias Halland Johannessen, for example, who had expressed a strong desire to participate, we could of course take individual considerations into account,” said Hushovd.
Hushovd also suggested that the general interest from many riders will be lower than in previous years, with a course that suits specifically the strongest climbers in the peloton, with other important races on the calendar to target, including the GP Quebec and Montreal.
"I haven't spoken to everyone personally, but my impression is that not much has been expressed. The one-day races in Canada are important for us, there are many points to be gained, and they suit our climbers well. We haven't set any demands on anyone, but we have at the same time set some goals and guidelines, and that includes the races in Canada," said Hushovd.
The UCI World Championships in Rwanda take place from 21-28 September.
