South African professional cyclist Ashleigh Moolman Pasio has described the UCI Road World Championships in Kigali as a historic milestone for Africa, saying it provides riders across the continent with crucial exposure at the highest level of competition.

Pasio, one of the most decorated riders on the continent, has won multiple national road race and time trial titles, the 2020 UCI Cycling Esports World Championships, and the 2022 Tour de Romandie Féminin. She will be in action on Saturday, September 27, representing UCI Women’s WorldTeam AG Insurance–Soudal.

Speaking to The New Times, she praised the atmosphere in Kigali. "We have already seen a great atmosphere with all the drums playing and people watching, so I'm very excited to be here,” she said.

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African cycling on the rise

According to Pasio, African cycling is progressing at an impressive rate, particularly on the women’s side. She noted that for many years she was the only African woman competing full-time in the elite professional peloton, but this has changed with a new wave of talent emerging.

She highlighted Mauritius’ Kim Le Court, who wore the yellow jersey at the Tour de France Femmes this year, describing it as a "huge moment for African women’s cycling.”

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Riders from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and Eritrea, she added, are now delivering performances that are close to the European standard. She pointed out Ethiopia’s strong showing at the World Championships and praised Rwanda’s Xaverine Nirere for an "excellent ride” in the time trial.

"Compared to previous years, the step forward has been clear. African women are starting to close the gap, and I believe it’s only a matter of time before we see them consistently at the top of the sport,” she said.

Opportunities and challenges

Pasio believes Africa has enormous potential in cycling because of its natural talent base and the cultural role of the bicycle in countries like Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Rwanda.

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However, she pointed out that limited development pathways and systemic obstacles continue to slow progress.

"The main obstacles are visas and the Eurocentric nature of the sport. For young riders, moving to Europe can be overwhelming, new culture, new food, new environment, and often they don’t have the time or visa stability to adapt,” she explained.

She cited Team Amani’s high-performance hub in Iten, Kenya, as a model for the continent, describing it as a "Girona of Africa” where athletes train in a world-class yet familiar environment, supported by partners such as Factor, Rapha, and SRAM.

Rising names to watch

Pasio talked about Rwanda’s Nirere, who transitioned from gravel to road racing, as a promising rider with strong potential.

She also mentioned Djazilla Mwamikazi, another Rwandan talent benefiting from training at the UCI World Cycling Centre, as well as Ethiopian women racing under Team Amani.

On the men’s side, she said Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay had already "set the benchmark” by proving that African riders can win at the highest level. What excites her most, however, is the growing depth of women’s cycling on the continent.

Resilience and career lessons

Reflecting on her 16-year career, Pasio said cycling has taught her resilience. "It’s a sport where you give everything, yet so much is out of your control, crashes, punctures, bad luck. Early in my career, I learned to keep my eyes on the bigger picture and to focus on the love of the sport and the person I was becoming, not just the results,” she said.

Every victory, from winning her first Cape Town Cycle Tour to lifting the Tour de Romandie title, holds a special meaning for her. "They’re markers in a bigger journey of growth, self-belief, and perseverance,” she added.

Breaking barriers for women

Pasio admitted that being a woman from Africa made her path even tougher, as professional women’s cycling was still in its infancy when she started. She left a stable engineering career to pursue her passion, facing financial insecurity, visa hurdles, and cultural barriers in Europe.

"But every obstacle made me stronger,” she said, crediting her husband Carl and her faith for helping her persevere.

She also reflected on how far the sport has come.

"The growth has been extraordinary. When I started, there were maybe 10 riders at a truly world-class level. Now there are 30, 40, even 50 riders capable of winning,” she noted, adding that the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift has been a game-changer.

Pasio hopes her career inspires young African women to dream big. "Most importantly, in Africa, when you empower one rider, especially a woman, you empower a whole community. That’s why I believe so deeply in creating opportunities for African women in cycling,” she said.

Her message to the next generation

"Love what you do. Cycling is tough, and there will be setbacks, but if you ride from a place of passion, you’ll always find the motivation to keep going. Don’t chase it for money or material rewards, chase it for the joy, the challenge, and the purpose. That’s what will carry you through and help you reach the top.”