[1][2] After the 2021 edition was postponed to early May due to the COVID-19 pandemic,[3][4] the race returned to its usual late-February timeslot.

[6] Team TotalEnergies was also reduced to four riders with one late non-starter.

The mountainous eight-day stage race covered 937.1 kilometres (582.3 mi) and over 15,428 metres (50,617 ft) of elevation, with 31 categorized climbs and four summit finishes.

Like in previous editions, the Rwandan capital, Kigali, featured heavily in the race, being a start and/or finish location on all but one of the eight stages.

While the Mur de Kigali time trial, which had featured as stage 7 of the past two editions, was not a part of the route, the cobbled hill was still climbed four times during the race.