Fariba won the race after an exciting sprint-off against her sister, to become the new Afghan women’s road champion. After they crossed the finish line, the sisters embraced in a long, tearful hug.
Fariba’s win secured a contract with the Israel-Premier Tech-Roland team and she is set to step up to the Women’s WorldTour level – the highest level in road cycling – later this year.
“I did not expect this in my wildest dreams. I will race for all Afghan women!” she told media after.
Her older sister Yulduz, who got silver, has also won a place on Israel-Premier Tech-Roland’s Development team. Zahra Rezayee – their friend and flat-mate – secured the bronze.
“I am very happy for them,” Fazli Ahmad Fazli, Afghan Cycling Federation President said. “These women are amazing riders and I’m sure that soon they will win in big races for Afghanistan.”
Fifty riders took part in the race, many of whom fled Afghanistan in August 2021. They came from across different countries in Europe where they are claiming asylum, as well as Singapore and Canada.
The sisters have big dreams. They want to become the first cyclists ever – male or female – to represent Afghanistan at the Olympics.
It won’t be easy – qualifying for the Olympics is hugely competitive. And Afghanistan may not be there at all.
In December, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) warned the Taliban government that the country could be banned from Paris 2024 unless women and young girls were allowed safe access to sport.
If that happens, Afghan refugees could have the option to compete under the IOC Refugee Olympic team instead – like Afghan cyclist Masomah Ali Zada did at Tokyo 2020.
But Fariba and Yulduz, who have won Olympic scholarships giving them financial and technical support for their careers, want to represent their homeland – and the flag of its toppled government specifically.
“I want to raise the flag of Afghanistan,” Yulduz says. “I want my father and mother to see me and feel proud. That would be the biggest dream ever.”
“Cycling is a sport where willpower, the desire to work hard and passion count for a lot. And these girls definitely have these things,” Alessandra tells me.