A new generation of riders, racers, and pro teams is turning Africa into a force in global cycling. Fueled by growing grassroots movements and landmark events, African cyclists and organizers are gearing up to claim their place at the sport’s highest levels.
Bonface Orucho, bird story agency
Riders disappear into clouds of Karoo dust as the midday sun bears down on the gravel plains. There’s no tarmac here, no roar of city traffic—just the crunch of wheels over gravel and the occasional call of a marshal echoing across the desert.
This is the Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race, a two-day endurance challenge through South Africa’s Tankwa Karoo—a harsh, otherworldly landscape that tests riders’ resolve as much as their speed.
But more than just a local event, Tanqua Kuru is part of a continental moment.
Once limited to remote rides, cycling is gaining new ground across Africa—evolving from a niche adventure sport into a rapidly growing professional movement.
According to Jeremy Crowder, the founder of the Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race, “it’s not just about speed—it’s about spirit.”
“In a year when South African cycling is gaining serious global attention, we’re proud to be the race that reminds people why they started gravel riding in the first place.”
The 2025 edition of the Tanqua Kuru Bicycle Race, held from 23–25 May, drew amateur and elite riders alike—many of them part of a broader wave of athletes redefining what African cycling looks like. The inaugural edition of the race was held in 2021.
Competitive cycling in South Africa is further along than other countries in the region, anchored by global events like the Cape Town Cycle Tour and 947 Cycle Challenge. These races draw elite riders and large crowds. Elsewhere on the continent, countries with little cycling history are now showing growing interest.
Benin for instance, staged the Tour du Bénin 2025 between 28 Apr and 03 May 2025, attracting national teams from other countries like Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Niger.
Benin marked its Road World Championships debut last year, with Georgette Vignonfodo completing the 73.5km women’s junior road race in Zurich.
Community-level programs and strategic investments are also driving a rapid boom in Benin’s cycling scene.
In the latest move, the Benin Cycling Federation has introduced equal prize money and equipment for both men and women, fostering inclusivity in the sport.
Women are riding into the frame as well. South Africa’s national women’s team has shown consistent performance over the past three seasons. Team Africa Rising data shows five of the top ten female African riders have signed contracts for 2025.
Rwanda is fast becoming a major hub for cycling in Africa, with the Tour du Rwanda growing into a fixture on the international calendar.
Once a regional event, the race now draws global attention, attracting UCI Pro Teams like Israel–Premier Tech and TotalEnergies, alongside top continental squads and European development teams.
In its 2025 edition, the Tour featured riders from 20 countries—including 39 Africans and 26 Europeans—cementing its status as a truly international competition.
The country is set to make history as the first African nation to host the Road World Championships, scheduled for 21–28 September 2025. The event was recently confirmed to go ahead despite regional tensions linked to conflict in neighboring DR Congo.
“The UCI clarifies that no relocation of the 2025 UCI Road World Championships from Rwanda to Switzerland or any other location is planned at this time,” a statement on the governing body’s website in January said.
East Africa’s cycling scene is, however, arguably led by Eritrea, where the sport enjoys deep cultural roots and strong national support. The country consistently produces top-tier riders who compete—and win—on the international stage.
Biniam Girmay, for instance, continues to elevate Eritrea’s presence in global cycling. In 2024, he made history by becoming the first Black African to win a Tour de France stage, securing victories in stages 3, 8, and 12.
His performance also earned him the prestigious green jersey—awarded to the leader in the points classification for consistent sprint finishes—marking the first time an African rider has claimed a classification jersey in the Tour’s history.
At the 2025 Boucles de la Mayenne held from May 29 to June 1, 2025, Girmay once again proved his mettle, finishing second in a tense sprint behind France’s Pierre Latour on the first road stage. The result highlights Girmay’s consistency as a top-tier contender in European races.
Though he didn’t win the stage or overall classification, Girmay’s presence among the elite reinforced Africa’s rising profile in global cycling.
According to Samuel Thando, a cycling coach at the University of Pretoria, Africa’s diverse terrain gives riders a unique experience.
“Africa’s rugged and varied landscapes are proving ideal for a growing cycling culture that embraces endurance, adventure, and off-road challenge,” he shared in a response message.
Kenya’s Migration Gravel Race (MGR), held annually in the Maasai Mara, exemplifies this. Scheduled for June 17–20, 2025, the MGR spans four days and covers 650 kilometers with over 8,000 meters of elevation gain.
This growing momentum around cycling in Africa is a result of intentional efforts across the continent.
In Nigeria, community-driven movements such as Cycling Lagos, first held in 2022, are equipping young riders with training, gear, and exposure. Informal ride clubs and local races have become vital entry points for aspiring cyclists.
Across major cities—from Accra to Addis Ababa—urban cycling initiatives are growing. Weekly group rides and weekend challenges are normalizing the sight of cyclists zipping through traffic, where once the bicycle was seen only as a means of transport.
The professional ecosystem is also evolving. African cyclists are beginning to enter pro circuits in Europe and Asia, mentored by veterans and scouts who now see the continent as more than just a reservoir of long-distance runners.
Africa now counts 145 professional cyclists—125 men and 20 women—racing across UCI’s top three tiers, according to Team Africa Rising, a Rwandan-based development platform that grew out of the pioneering ‘Team Rwanda’ initiative, operational since 2017.
Notably, nine men and two women are signed with WorldTour or Pro Continental teams, reflecting the continent’s growing influence in global cycling.
Eritrea leads in pro contracts, with stars like Girmay, Henok Mulubrhan, and Natnael Tesfatsion riding for major teams. South Africa, Rwanda, Morocco, Algeria, Mauritius, and Uganda, among others, also have professional cyclists.
In addition to individual riders, Africa now has seven UCI-registered professional teams: Agadir Vélo Propulsion and Sidi Ali – Unlock Team from Morocco, Madar Pro Cycling Team from Algeria, Suez Canal Discovery from Egypt, and Rwanda’s Java – Inovotec Pro Team, Team Amani, and May Stars.
Twenty-two of the top 30 male riders in the Africa Tour now ride under contract, a sign of the growing professionalization of the sport.
Cycling’s impact goes beyond sport. Since the UN inaugurated World Bicycle Day on June 3, 2018, cycling has been celebrated as a powerful catalyst for climate action—offering an affordable, sustainable way to cut emissions and reshape urban mobility.
June 3 is annually celebrated as World Bicycle Day globally.
bird story agency
