Cycling in Afghanistan

Massouma and Zahra

Much is heard of the repressive regime of the Taliban in Afghanistan and its legacy for women's rights, and these two young women, aged 17 and 19, risk even their lives by going out as part of the national women's cycling team.
Coached by a top male cyclist, they do most of their road training hidden in the "peloton" of their male colleagues, but they would have loved to compete in Rio at the Olympic Games. For the present though, they are to ride this weekend in L'Albigeoise a road race in the Tarn, where they have been practising under the eye of the head of Albi Velo Sport, Roland Gilles.
The race is a qualifier for the world championships in Australia in November.
comments to taglines82@gmail.com