Alessandra Cappellotto and African cycling: a bond that the 1997 World Road Champion in San Sebastian has consolidated in recent days, giving increasing momentum to the work in the Continent through "Road to Equality", a project of which the former cyclist from Vicenza is the leading figure and managing director of Cpa Women.

The question around which the conversation in the Radisson hotel lobby revolves, just 50 meters from the finish line, is the following: will the World Championships in Kigali 2025 be able to affirm the value of inclusion and equal opportunities between men and women in cycling activities in Africa? "My optimism is not unfounded, because there is a real change of pace in connecting men's and women's cycling, even in these latitudes, where differences are measured between nations in terms of women's emancipation."

Cappellotto knows what she's talking about, recalling her practical sense, well aware that the reference horizon is the efforts made by sports institutions, in this case the UCI, in favor of the African cycling movement. "Here in Rwanda, there are particularly favorable conditions for developing passion and practice of our sport in the female sphere, to the point that the Minister of Sport is a woman. I just spoke with the Director of Tour du Rwanda and I can only be happy when I hear they want to extend the main continental event, which is 2.1, to women as well," she told us during the World Championship weekend.

However, beyond the welcome races, Cappellotto's focus is entirely on spreading and promoting cycling even in countries without a cycling tradition, knowing how the presence of champions can be a driving force: "Positive idols that put the value of identification at the center. Girls and young women in Africa deserve the attention that the UCI is dedicating to them. Welcome the opening of a World Cycling Center satellite here in Rwanda, but in parallel, basic academies are optimal, where the primary boost to any initiative remains the availability of bicycles to start with." Alessandra speaks with expertise, pragmatic when showing a message on her cell phone from an Italian company manager who has 7 used bicycles to send to African lands: "I myself went to the World Championships in Glasgow driving a Station Wagon full of material for cyclists from the countries followed by Road to Equality. Sometimes, there's no need for pharaonic actions."

Known, respected, and honored for her meritorious work in facilitating the life-saving arrival of Afghan women in Italy during the humanitarian corridor in the summer of 2022, Cappellotto cherishes her girls like the athletes who grew up in Valcar and moved to teams like Ceratizit. "It's exciting to see how young athletes like Ethiopian Tsige Kiros have been able to stand out at the Tour de l'Avenir 2025, before competing in a beautiful World Championship in Rwanda. In the top ten of this strong athlete, there is a powerful message transmitted to an entire potential practitioners' audience."

In short, what remains unexpressed in the realm of women's cycling in Africa? "99%, I would say, because the margins are unexplored, and there is a precise will to seize the legacy of Kigali 2025. I reiterate that grassroots activity and presence on the international stage are not opposing dimensions, quite the opposite. Optimal is the birth of a 2.2 calendar in Africa, there have already been emerging races this summer (in Namibia, for example), although then another issue needs to be addressed." Which one? "In agreement with the institutions, I'm thinking about the contribution of the Professional Cycling League president, on a European scale we want to make obtaining visas for cyclists from these countries easier."

On the emancipation front, meanwhile, Alessandra maintains that nothing should be left untried in those countries where the female condition remains more disadvantaged. At the same time, rewarding dialogue with the most sensitive federations, and making a non-trivial observation: in the International Cycling Union board, the presence of General Director Amina Lanaya, of Moroccan nationality, stands out, a protagonist of an important rise through the ranks of the organization based in Aigle.