2026 marks breakthrough year for African women in pro cycling

At the weekend, across two major UCI 1.1 one-day races, history occurred: Seven African women from four different nations – including four reigning national champions - were racing. This was a huge moment for African women’s cycling.

The recent exploits of Kim Le Court Pienaar (Mauritius) on the AG Insurance - Soudal Team are well documented, and her top twenty finish at the Giro dell' Appennino Donne on Sunday was to be expected. This moved her into the UCI top ten women worldwide.

Kim’s team-mate Ashleigh Moolman-Pasio (South Africa) - in her last year as a pro rider - came in 49th just a couple of minutes behind Kim. Both these riders are well known at this level and represent Africa proudly.

The start-list of the Giro dell'Appennino Donne also boasted the UCI’s World Cycling Centre (WCC) Women’s Continental Team, managed by the great Valentina Scandolara. The team has an overall squad of ten riders, half of whom are from Africa for 2026. On the start-list were three of these women: Serkalem Taye Watango (Ethiopia), Jazilla Mwamikazi (Rwanda) and Lucie Mayer (Mauritius). 

Jazilla (21) is the reigning Rwandan national champion, having been coached and developed by the Ndabaga Team back home in Rwanda. Serkalem (24) is a rising talent from Ethiopia, with a National ITT Champion title, and several road race podiums already. Her fifth (best Ethiopian) place at the most recent African Continental Championships was a good sign of her progress. Lucie (25) has been racing for several years but is celebrating her first team contract this year and is determined to show she is not just the second female rider of Mauritius.

These three ladies all finished the race in and around the top 100, and with over thirty riders OTL/DNF, were happy to finish with the top riders. The first race of the season is vital to do well, get a feel of the new bike and team, and set a foundation for the season. 

Over at The Midwest Classic in Belgium, more history was made. Two national champions from Africa were on the start list: South Africa’s S’annara Grove (Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team) - who has just been getting better and better - took an impressive 21st spot, just two seconds behind the winner. Expect her to keep shining in 2026!

However, the key moment was 2025 Eritrean National Champion Monalisa Araya Chneslasie who signed on for her CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation team. She is the first Eritrean woman to ever race for a UCI professional team. Eritrea has a strong history in the men’s side of the sport, but opening the door to female riders is a brilliant development. 

Alongside Monalisa on the CANYON//SRAM team in 2026 is Tsige Kahsay Kiros, the exciting 18-year-old Ethiopian who lit up the Junior Road Race at the World Championships. Tsige got her first taste of a Belgian kermesse this weekend and finished just a minute off the top twenty at the Trofeo Oro in Euro (UCI 1.1) two weeks ago.

Beth Duryea, the co-owner of the CANYON//SRAM World Tour and Generation teams, shared her thoughts: “We are just super excited for 2026 with the Generation team having Tsige and Monalisa join us. They are exceptional talents and we cannot wait to see what the season unfolds for both of these riders and the team.”

The CANYON//SRAM team have been one of the biggest supporters of African women in recent years, including several riders from the continent on their development squad since it launched. Durea explains, “It is so important to diversify the sport and see more riders from countries that are under-represented in the women's pro peloton. We targeted riders from Africa for sure, but also from South America and Asia as well.”

Both Monalisa and Tsige have secured vital multi-year contracts with the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation team allowing them to focus completely on their training and development, racing, and getting to know the riders and staff around them.

Durea explained how this is a key element of their programme early in the season: “Of course there's training kilometres on the bike, but there's so much time spent off the bike, its vital all the squad get to know each other, try to teach the other riders about the differences in culture, in food, how they grew up, their families and what ‘home’ means for them.”

You can hear more from Beth Durea on the Africa Rising Cycling podcast, where she discusses these young riders and their programme, as well as the CANYON//SRAM zondacrypto Generation team’s commitment to African riders.