When you talk about breaking barriers in cycling, you rarely get to say “first ever” anymore — but Team Amani just earned it. The Kenya-based collective announced the creation of the first UCI Women’s Continental Cycling Team from Africa. The powerhouse team is registered in Ethiopia and powered by riders from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and across East Africa. The goal? Nothing short of the world stage — the Tour de France Femmes, Giro Donne, and La Vuelta Femenina — by 2028.
And if history is any indicator, they’ll get there.
Talent is Universal — Opportunity Isn’t
Team Amani has been rewriting the playbook since its founding in 2020. What began as a small project connecting riders from Kenya, Uganda, and Rwanda has evolved into a movement built on one belief: the talent has always been here — the access hasn’t.
From visa issues and sponsorship hurdles to the lack of elite infrastructure. The path to the global stage for African riders has been anything but direct. Amani’s approach has been to flip the script — to build the infrastructure first, right where the riders live and train.
In five years, they’ve gone from organizing gravel camps to winning global events and turning heads at UNBOUND and Migration Gravel Race. Now, they’re tackling the most ambitious step yet: a women’s team built to develop, race, and win — from Africa, for Africa.
A New Chapter, Guided by Experience
Joining the team as Mentor and Advisor is none other than Ashleigh Moolman Pasio — one of the most accomplished African cyclists of all time. A four-time Olympian, multiple national champion, and former top-10 at both the Tour de France Femmes and Giro Donne, Moolman Pasio brings a lifetime of elite experience and purpose-driven leadership.
“This is about creating pathways, not passports,” says Moolman Pasio. “Amani is building high-performance infrastructure in Africa — where riders are supported by their own communities and culture. I’ve seen the level of talent firsthand. The power numbers are one thing, but the drive and hunger are on another level entirely.”
Her mission is clear: to mentor this next generation of African cyclists until they’re shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world.
Racing Toward the Dream
The team’s first season kicks off in Spring 2026, with a European calendar designed to build experience and confidence. Each race will be another step toward the ultimate target: lining up at the world’s biggest races by 2028 under an all-African flag.
Team Amani co-founder Mikel Delagrange calls this a “watershed moment.”
“We’ve always believed that with the same resources, our athletes can compete with the best. We set a moonshot goal — and it just so happens that our women hit it first. Trailblazers have the hard job of cutting the path, but once it’s paved, many will follow.”
That sentiment echoes across everything Amani stands for: this isn’t a charity story — it’s a racing story.
The Start Lines Are What Matter
The team’s official launch took place at Rouleur Live in London, presented by team rider Xaverine Nirere and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, alongside a short film about Nirere’s journey. Supported by long-time partners Rapha and POC, the launch marks the fifth year Amani has been on the Rouleur Live stage — proof that their message continues to resonate.
As Delagrange put it best:
“We don’t need charity. We need start lines.”
The dream is bold: to build the first all-African team to not only race a Grand Tour, but to win one. With this women’s squad, that dream just moved from an idea to a countdown.
Africa’s future in women’s cycling isn’t coming — it’s already rolling out of the start gate.
