Fariba Hashimi made history at the 2024 Tour de l’Ardèche, claiming a solo victory on the Queen Stage. The 21-year-old rider from Afghanistan became the first female cyclist from her country to achieve a UCI win, crossing the line just five seconds ahead of Dominika Wlodarczyk.
It was a race filled with dramatic climbs, including the challenging ascent of Mont Lozère, where Hashimi made her move. After breaking away from her companions in the final kilometres, she crossed the line victorious, raising her hand in triumph. “We have sacrificed so much. I never thought cycling would mean not seeing my brothers and sisters again.”
Thalita de Jong, the overall race leader, came in third and expanded her lead in the general classification. Despite the tough competition from behind, de Jong managed to maintain control. “I’m happy with the third spot today,” she said, reflecting on her efforts to secure points during the initial climb. De Jong acknowledged that the breakaway riders weren’t direct GC threats, but Wlodarczyk was only 2 minutes 45 behind. “I thought some teams would be interested in pulling them back,” she added, noting that two of the breakaway riders were reeled in by the end.
The race to the summit saw more drama as Marion Bunel and Maëva Squiban attempted to claw back time, launching an attack that de Jong was quick to counter. “I tried myself as well, but there was a headwind, so it wasn’t easy,” de Jong explained. She eventually launched her own move just a kilometre from the finish, gaining crucial time. Despite not securing a win today, de Jong remained focused on keeping her leader’s jersey, saying, “We made the right choice to go full for my leader’s jersey. Tomorrow, we’ll try to make it a nice final stage.”
As the Tour de l’Ardèche nears its conclusion, Hashimi’s remarkable victory stands out. The win represents much more than just a stage victory. Hashimi and her sister Yulduz fled Afghanistan in 2021 after the Taliban took power and banned women from participating in sports. I never thought that by cycling, I would lose contact with my family.”
Despite the immense challenges, the Hashimi sisters pursued their cycling dream, eventually finding refuge in Italy. They realised their Olympic dream last month in Paris, thanks to a special arrangement by the IOC. “That’s what we’ve always dreamed of,” Yulduz said. “Despite everything taken from us, we show that we can succeed. We represent 20 million Afghan women.”
While Yulduz did not finish the road race in Paris, Fariba placed 75th. For both sisters, the opportunity to compete at the Olympics was already a victory in itself. Today, just weeks after their Olympic achievement, Fariba secured the first UCI victory for an Afghan woman, a defining moment in her cycling journey.
2024 Tour de l’Ardeche Stage 5 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: TCFIA
