This feature originally appeared in Cycling Weekly magazine on 11 September 2025. Subscribe now and never miss an issue.
When Adrien Niyonshuti stops pedalling, the past comes rushing back. He used to get headaches akin to withdrawal symptoms if he didn’t ride his bike for a few days. Cycling has been his escape, his way to silence the memories that once threatened to consume him. “I look forwards over my front wheel,” he says. “It takes a couple of minutes before you forget everything and just enjoy what you’re doing.”
