The target is clear: In 2028, Team Amani will line up at the world’s biggest women’s races.
Team Amani launches the first-ever women’s continental cycling team from Africa
November 13, 2025 - Nairobi, Kenya — Team Amani today announces the formation of the first ever women’s UCI Continental Cycling Team from Africa, with a bold ambition: by 2028, the team will compete at the Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift, Giro d’Italia Donne, and La Vuelta Femenina. The team will be registered in Ethiopia, and feature elite riders from Rwanda, Ethiopia and other East African nations. This milestone is a defining chapter in Team Amani’s journey to reshape the global cycling landscape.
Team Amani was born out of a simple but powerful belief: 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 out of the top tiers 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 racing, road development programs, regional camps, and partnerships with leading global brands, the team has consistently challenged assumptions about what East African cyclists can achieve. Now, with the launch of this women’s team, the project takes its most ambitious step yet.
The team is also honoured to welcome Ashleigh Moolman Pasio as Mentor-Advisor.. One of the most accomplished cyclists to emerge from the African continent, Ashleigh is a four-time Olympian, multiple-time national champion, and former top-10 finisher at the Tour de France Femmes and Giro Donne. She has dedicated her life to not only racing at the highest level, but also to lifting women’s cycling through advocacy, mentorship, and entrepreneurship. Ashleigh joins Team Amani with a singular focus: helping this team reach the world stage on their own terms.
“As a pioneer for African women’s cycling, reaching this stage of my career feels like the right moment to give back and help the next generation of African talent reach the highest level. When I was properly introduced to Team Amani earlier this year, I was deeply inspired by the project’s vision. Rather than following the traditional model of sending African riders to Europe and hoping they adapt, Amani is building high-performance infrastructure in Africa — where riders feel at home, supported by their own cultures and communities — and then creating pathways to Europe in a sustainable way.
Having seen the level of talent firsthand, I’m convinced that the potential is enormous. The power numbers are impressive, but even more inspiring is the hunger and determination of these riders. I’m proud to play a hands-on role in helping them unlock that potential and to see African women line up at the world’s biggest races in the years to come.”
- Ashleigh Moolman Pasio - Mentor-Advisor for Team Amani
In Spring 2026, the women’s team will begin racing in Europe, with a full calendar focused on progression and preparation. The goal is not just to develop world-class athletes, but to build an African team, managed and supported from the continent, that can stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the best in the world.
“Establishing this team with ambitions to race competitively in the biggest races in the world within three years feels like a watershed moment for our project. We’ve always believed that with like for like resources our athletes could compete with the best. We set out a moonshot trajectory with ambitious milestones. It just so happens that our ladies hit them first. Our message to the young women on our team is that the only limitation they have now is that of their own imaginations. Trailblazers have the hard work of cutting paths where none previously existed. But once the path is paved, many will follow. That’s why this moment is so consequential- not just for the women on this team but also for the future of the sport.”
- Mikel Delagrange - Team Amani Co-Founder and Head Cheerleader
To support that vision, Amani is actively recruiting talent and staff to expand its reach and deepen its roots. 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 stage at Rouleur Live in London, with team rider Xaverine Nirere and Ashleigh Moolman Pasio presenting the project to the public alongside a new film about Nirere.The launch follows a press conference hosted by Amani partner and supporter Rapha at their Soho Clubhouse in London. Team Amani is also deeply grateful to long-time partner POC, whose support was instrumental in shaping this moment. This marks the fifth consecutive year that Amani has taken the stage at Rouleur Live and we’re grateful to the support of partners, including POC, who have helped bring this opportunity to life and supported Amani’s presence at Rouleur Live across the years.
We don’t need charity. We need start lines.
Media Contact:
contact@teamamani.com
www.teamamani.com
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Team Amani was established in 2020 with the goal of leveling the playing field in cycling. With a focus on East African talent, the project supports both men and women through competitive programs in road, gravel, and development. Amani partners with leading brands including POC, Rapha, SRAM, Wahoo, Fizik and Factor. The team is managed out of Kenya and Rwanda, with operational hubs in Iten and Kigali.
Ashleigh Moolman Pasio is widely recognised as a pioneer in women's cycling, both on and off the bike. Her racing career spans over a decade at the WorldTour level, including leadership roles at teams such as CCC-Liv and AG Insurance-Soudal. In addition to founding Rocacorba Collective, she has championed mentorship programs for young riders across the globe.
Fusion supports Team Amani with comms, strategy and hype, through a collective believe that cycling needs diversifying