75 min & 52 min
directors: Alain Rimbert & Matteo Born

In August 2021, the Taliban entered Kabul victorious after 20 years of war, bringing with them the promise of a new era of darkness. As Afghan society had only just begun to open up, people now faced the return of repression—especially women and athletes, who were seen as immoral. The women’s national cycling team, created in 2010 and preparing for international competitions, suddenly found itself in grave danger.

Under the Taliban’s strict interpretation of Islamic law, cycling was once again forbidden for women. Riding a bicycle became a sin, a source of shame, and a crime that could be punished by death. Realizing the urgency, a Canadian-Israeli billionaire and cycling enthusiast secretly assembled a group of influential women and men to plan an evacuation and help these professional athletes escape the country. What followed pushed the cyclists and their families into an adventure worthy of a spy film.

The International Cycling Union, Philippe Leuba—then Swiss State Councillor for Economy, Innovation, and Sport—along with NGOs and supporters across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, joined forces in this dramatic mission that took the women from Afghanistan through Tajikistan and Albania, and finally to Europe.

Coproduction: Lila Prod (FR)