The 2021 Tour of Rwanda has been postponed until May due to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. The race was scheduled to take place February 21-28, but after confirmation by the UCI, it has been rescheduled for May 2-9.

Israel's Startup Nation was scheduled to be the only WorldTour team to participate in the race, but pro teams Total Direct Energy, B&B Hotels p/b KTM, Team Novo Nordisk, and Androni Giocattoli Sidermek also announced their participation. 3]

In a statement released on Friday, Abdalla Murenzi, president of the Rwanda Cycling Federation, revealed that the event has been postponed "in light of the current global situation of the COVID-19 pandemic and the many uncertainties that prevent the Tour of Rwanda from being held in the best possible conditions.

.

Murenzi added that the Tour of Rwanda has been rescheduled for May 2-9 "subject to verification of future dates by the UCI" and that preparations for the event are "actively underway."

The route for the eight-day race has a total climbing distance of 16,347 m.

This UCI 2.1 stage race is the latest early season event to be postponed or cancelled due to the COVID-19 epidemic. Gabon's Tropical Amissa Bongo was postponed to a later date; in Australia, the Tour Down Under, Bay Critz, Great Ocean Race, and Herald Sun Tour were canceled; and in Argentina, the Vuelta a San Juan was canceled. In Spain, Challenge Mallorca has been postponed until May, and organizers of the Vuelta a Murcia are considering rescheduling the race.

On Friday, the UCI announced that there will be no junior men's or women's races at the cyclocross world championships in Ostend, but the under-23 and elite races will take place as scheduled.

Previously held in November, the 2018 Tour of Rwanda will be held in August, with the last two races held in February; the 2020 Tour of Rwanda will be hosted by Eritrea's Androni Giocattoli Cidermec, who signed with Androni Giocattoli Cidermec starting this season. Natnael Tesfacion won the event.