The story of the Afghan cyclists who escaped Kabul and became icons of contemporary sport is now part of this two-wheeled world. Fariba's story Hashim and companions brought to light the activity of Road to Equality, the association created by former world champion Alessandra Hat who worked so hard to get the girls out of the country after the Taliban fell. In the long run, however, the commitment made to the Afghan women risks being reductive, because Road to Equality is much more than that..
The association represents a very onerous commitment, if added to that of the CPA Women's cycling, especially since there are fewer than 10 people involved. Alessandra's days are extremely busy, from morning to night it's a succession of phone calls, meetings, decisions to be made, and finding a few minutes to talk and share her experiences is not easy.
«We started in 2021 – he explains – but it really seems like a century ago… In 2017 I founded the women's CPA, the cyclists' union, but I had realised that that commitment, dedicated only to top-level cycling, did not cover the real needs of this movementWomen's cycling's cycling is a complex topic…».
To what extent?
First of all, we must consider that we often talk about professional cycling, but this is not the case. There are few countries that recognize professionalism for the women's sector, in many cases (including in our country) it is more of a hybrid and this creates problems. However, since we were dealing with top-level cycling, we were completely cut off from the real issue that was close to my heart: help the evolution of women's cycling by intervening in developing countries and we can do it through small things, but which are fundamental.
Getting into specifics, what do you do?
We try to help however we can. Girls looking for a team, organizers seeking support through sponsorships and prizes, and teams seeking financial assistance come to us. We make our knowledge available, let's say we act as an intermediary so that their requests can be fulfilled.These requests come to us from all over the world, clearly from those countries where women's cycling has yet to evolve: Africa, Asia, South America and so on.
How did the story of Afghan women cyclists begin?
The contact was with the president of the Afghan federation who turned to us for help in organizing a women's competition in the capital Kabul. Thanks to the material contribution but above all to the sensitivity of the Rudy Project, we sent helmets, glasses and lots of material to give as prizes to the girlsFrom there, a contact was born which, in the most difficult days, was essential.
How important is your name, built over the years of your involvement in world cycling, to your work?
I can't deny it, because fundamental bonds have been created. Our work relies heavily on human relationships. When we take on a case, we pick up the phone or computer and start checking who might be able to help us., solve that particular problem. I explain the situation and work with the contact person to find the best solution. I can't deny that we can't answer many requests: many girls want us to find them a team; we can provide some contacts, but they'll then have to earn it. We can help you obtain the visas needed to move to the country and I can assure you that this is no small feat..
You were talking about the Afghan federation: are you often contacted by federations from other countries?
Yes, and this falls specifically within our statutory responsibilities. We're interested in helping and increasing our activities in countries where gender equality isn't a given, where there's a desire to organize events for women, be they races or training camps—in short, to ensure that cycling can be a significant step forward on the long journey of women's emancipation. In most of the world, sporting emancipation is still a pipe dream. I refer for example to the Taaramae's story from RwandaIn that country, healthcare is like the American one: if you have money, you get treated. If you get hit by a car and don't have insurance (which is very expensive, by the way), they leave you there. We try to help by looking for contacts and sponsors for companies.
Do you also handle the shipping of cycling equipment?
Of course, and I'll tell you an anecdote about it: Last year, at the World Championships in Leuven, I loaded the car up as much as possible, with helmets, tires (essential, perhaps the most requested accessory), clothing and much more. They had to be delivered to the technical commissioners of several countries, from the Ivory Coast to Rwanda, to Congo... It was a difficult journey, I won't deny it. Upon arrival, the various representatives collected what was due and loaded it into the athletes' and staff's suitcases. We had thus provided help more quickly.If things were simpler bureaucratically, much more could be done to help.
In your contacts, have you always found outgoing hands on the other side?
Yes, also because I'm a person with strong ties to institutions. I strongly believe in the value of female athletes, but I also believe that their promotion must be achieved through institutional channels. And what often surprises me is finding, in countries where gender equality is still a long way off, men at the head of federations and bodies who are very sensitive towards women's sport, towards what we doThey believe in their athletes and in that case it's easy to help.
