Fariba Hashimi joins the WorldTour with Ceratizit-WNT

21-year-old becomes first Afghan to race for a WorldTour team

Hashimi in her new national champion’s kit. Image: Ceratizit-WNT

21-year-old Afghan racer Fariba Hashimi has joined German WorldTour team Ceratizit-WNT for 2025 after a breakthrough season.

Hashimi came to prominence on the world stage this year with a barnstorming ride at the Olympic Games Road Race. She attacked with 125km to go and impressively drove the breakaway on, being the last rider standing and eventually finishing in 75th place.

A few weeks later, she won her first UCI race in Europe, soloing to victory on the queen stage of the 2.1 level Tour Feminin l'Ardeche, defeating a raft of WorldTour rivals on the slopes of Mont Lozère.

Fariba Hashimi makes history

Along with her sister, Yulduz, Fariba Hashimi raced with the UCI World Cycling Centre team in 2024 and impressed further win 8th place in the Tour de l’Avenir Femmes and 10th in the Giro Mediterraneo in Rosa.

“We're excited to announce that Afghan National Champion Fariba Hashimi joins the squad for 2025, becoming the first rider from Afghanistan to reach the Women’s WorldTour,” Ceratizit-WNT said on X.

“Fariba’s inspiring journey and talent exemplifies resilience and determination, aligning perfectly with the team’s values and commitment to developing the talents of young riders on the international stage.”

The German squad are going through quite a refresh for 2025, with ten riders leaving the team including the likes of Marta Lach and Cédrine Kerbaol.

Fariba and Yulduz Hashimi have been inspirational pioneers not only for cycling in Afghanistan, but also for women in the country as they face oppression and human rights abuses.

When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan in 2021, they clamped down on women’s rights, banning them from sport, education and restricting travel alongside many other activities. The Hashimi sisters, who dreamed of racing professionally, knew they had to flee.

“The biggest thing for me is to be away from my mother,” Fariba told the BBC. “I never thought that because of cycling I would be separated from my brothers and sisters…I’ve sacrificed a lot.”

The pair recently took part in the Paris Olympic Games, with Fariba lighting up the road race with an attacking performance which caught the eye. They chose to represent Afghanistan, rather than the Olympic Refugee Team, to represent the millions of women trapped within the Taliban regime.

“Our achievement belongs to Afghanistan,” Fariba said. “This belongs to Afghanistan women. I am going to the Olympics because of them.”

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