The Uzbek women’s Tashkent City Women team has folded with immediate effect, just months after drawing attention at this year’s Tour de France Femmes. The team, which had been backed by the Uzbekistan Cycling Federation, was originally created with the goal of qualifying riders for the Paris Olympic Games.
Yanina Kuskova, the team’s standout rider, shared the news on her Instagram on Thursday, expressing her gratitude for the experience. “Our team existed for 3 years and it was a great time and now it’s over,” Kuskova wrote, reflecting on the team’s journey. Despite being the only rider from Tashkent City to finish the 2024 Tour de France Femmes, Kuskova has yet to secure a spot on another team for the 2025 season, although the transfer window remains open for the next three months.
A source close to the team confirmed that the Tashkent City project had reached its conclusion. “The project of Tashkent City Team will not continue,” the source revealed, citing the completion of their Olympic mission and a lack of elite cycling infrastructure in Uzbekistan as key reasons for the team’s closure. Corruption within the system was also mentioned as a contributing factor.
The disbanding of the Tashkent City Women team marks the end of a controversial chapter for the team, which had attracted significant attention during the Tour de France Femmes. Kuskova was the sole finisher for the team at the event, making headlines as she completed the race on Alpe d’Huez. Despite her strong showing, the future remains uncertain for both Kuskova and her former teammates, with the closure of the team leaving many in a state of limbo.
While Kuskova’s reputation has grown since her performance at the Tour, the situation underscores broader issues within Uzbek cycling, particularly around support and infrastructure. The federation’s role in the team’s demise has not gone unnoticed, with riders like Kuskova left to navigate an uncertain future.
