It's a somewhat historic day for women's cycling, for Africa, and for the global cycling movement: Team Amani is announcing the creation of the first African UCI Women's Continental team, with an ambitious goal: to compete in the Tour de France Femmes with Zwift, the Giro d'Italia Donne, and the Vuelta Femenina by 2028. The team will be registered in Ethiopia and will include elite athletes from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and other East African nations.

Team Amani is born from a simple but powerful conviction: that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Founded in 2020, Amani is a project rooted in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, and now Ethiopia, created to address the structural inequalities that have long kept African cyclists away from the highest levels of global competition. From limited access to international races and lack of high-performance infrastructure to barriers in visa, travel, and sponsorship systems, the obstacles have been many, but not insurmountable.

In just five years, Amani has built one of the most dynamic cycling movements on the continent. Through elite gravel races, road development programs, targeted retreats, and partnerships with global leading brands, the team has consistently challenged preconceptions about what East African cyclists can do. Now, with the launch of this women's team, the project takes its most ambitious step.

The team is also honored to welcome Ashleigh Moolman Pasio as Mentor-Consultant. One of the most established cyclists to emerge from the African continent, Ashleigh is a four-time Olympian, multiple national champion, and former top 10 finisher at the Tour de France Femmes and Giro Donne. She has dedicated her life not only to racing at the highest levels but also to growing women's cycling through advocacy, mentoring, and entrepreneurship. Ashleigh joins Team Amani with a unique goal: to help this team reach the world stage on their own terms.

"As a pioneer of African women's cycling, at this point in my career, it feels like the right time to give back and help the next generation of African talents reach the highest levels. When I was introduced to Team Amani earlier this year, I was deeply inspired by the project's vision. Instead of following the traditional model of sending African cyclists to Europe and hoping they adapt, Amani is building high-performance infrastructure in Africa, where cyclists feel at home, supported by their cultures and communities, and then creating pathways to reach Europe sustainably. Having seen the talent level firsthand, I'm convinced that the potential is enormous. The numbers are impressive, but even more stimulating are the hunger and determination of these cyclists. I'm proud to play an active role in helping them unlock this potential and see African women lining up in the world's most important races in the years to come," explained Ashleigh Moolman Pasio.

In the spring of 2026, the women's team will begin racing in Europe, with a full calendar focused on growth and preparation. The goal is not only to develop world-class athletes but also to build an African team, managed and supported by the continent, capable of competing side by side with the best in the world.

"Creating this team with the ambition to race in the world's most important races within three years has been a turning point for our project. We have always believed that, with similar resources, our athletes could compete with the best. We have charted an ambitious trajectory with ambitious milestones. And as it happens, our athletes have reached them first. Our message to the young women in our team is that the only limit they have now is their imagination. Pioneers have the hard work of tracing roads where none existed before. But once the road is traced, many will follow. That's why this moment is so important, not only for the women in this team but also for the future of this sport," adds Mikel Delagrange, Co-founder and chief cheerleader of Team Amani.

To support this vision, Amani is actively recruiting talent and staff, and the dream is clear: to become the first all-African team to race a Grand Tour and win.

The official team launch will take place live on the Rouleur Live stage in London, with cyclists Xaverine Nirere and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio presenting the project to the public, along with a new film about Nirere. Team Amani is also deeply grateful to long-time partner POC, whose support has been crucial in shaping this moment.

"We don't need charity, we need starting lines": www.teamamani.com