Fleeing from the Taliban regime, the cyclist Fariba Hashimi accomplishes the feat at Mont Lozère – Libération

2024-09-08 11:01:54

The rider won the queen stage of the Tour de l’Ardèche on Saturday 7 September, becoming the first Afghan to win at a high level. A symbol for the woman who left her country three years ago with her sister to escape the return of the fundamentalists.

Something important happened in Lozère on Saturday 7 September. No images were released, few people saw it, but those who were there will remember it for a long time. During the queen stage of the Ardèche women’s international cycling tour, between Canourgue and Mont Lozère, the highest point of the Cévennes, where subalpine meadows and peat bogs with multiple shades of red reign, Fariba Hashimi, a young Afghan, 21 years old, won. Even though the most famous riders in the world are currently in Romandie, she is ahead of quality opponents, such as Thalita de Jong, recent 10th at the Tour de France or the French Léa Curinier and Marion Bunel (who just won the Tour de Futuro) . In high-speed women’s cycling, this is the first time in history that an Afghan woman has won a stage of a race registered in the professional calendar of the International Cycling Union (UCI).

Fariba Hashimi’s victory is a clear symbol, at a time when women’s rights in her country are increasingly repressed. With her sister Yulduz, three years older, the cyclist fled Afghanistan in 2021, when the Taliban returned to power. Since then, the two riders have been training in Aigle, Switzerland, at the World Cycling Center, an institution founded by the UCI to bring out athletes from disadvantaged regions on all continents. At the beginning of August they were able to participate in the Olympic Games. The two sisters even launched themselves into the first breakaway of the road race and led the way for dozens of kilometers towards Paris.

“They have the courage to go against Taliban power”

Deposit the Italian Alessandra Cappellottoformer world champion, who spotted them during a race in Kabul and helped them leave the country, “Seeing them fly the flag at the opening ceremony sent a big message, stronger than any head of state could have sent. Fariba and Yulduz are aware of the risk they run, they have the courage to go against the Taliban power. Their family still lives in Afghanistan and has been forced to relocate four times in the past year. Their youngest brother was injured in the head with a knife. We told him, “It’s for your sisters at the Olympics.”

Fariba Hashimi is constantly improving, often appearing in attack. SATURDAY, relationships the free Midishe ran away for the first time, before being captured and then leaving again. On the podium she received the red jersey of the most combative rider. But she opened it to proudly show, underneath, the jersey of her team from the world cycling centre, applauded by her sister and teammate.

In May, on the Direct Vélo websiteFariba Hashimi explained: “I want to tell the whole world to help Afghan women. It is forbidden for them to cycle outdoors or work. We want to show that women can do anything, ride a bike and keep going.” On his Instagram account he proudly talks about his new life, his competitions and the joy of having carried the flag at the Olympics. He also publishes photos of his last run in Afghanistan, before having to flee. We see her, with other women, supported by the spectators. He says he will never forget it. One day he will return.