Africa Rising Cycling Podcast

"Pedals for Peace" is an extraordinary solo cycling initiative started by Miguel Masaisai, a 25-year-old Congolese triathlete and cyclist from the conflict-torn city of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Masaisai uses the bicycle as a peaceful weapon to protest decades of violent conflict in the eastern DRC, raise awareness about its devastating impact on youth, and show the world that Congolese people are capable of achieving incredible things.Completing a 7,000km ride in 2025 from Goma to Cape Town, he rides unsupported, relying entirely on his own stamina and the kindness of strangers in each town for meals and a place to sleep.He is currently on a new mission: a 14,000km ride from Goma to Rabat, on the north west coast of Morocco!Please do give our podcast a listen, follow his journey on his Instagram and TikTok accounts, and if you are able, make a donation on his GoFundMe Page to help with his costs.#PedalsForPeace #UnstoppableMasai #AfricaRising

Thirty-three year old Willie Smit is one of Africa's most ever-present professional cyclists over the last 15 years. He has raced at UCI World Tour, Pro Continental and Continental level across Europe, Africa and Asia.Willie shares his entry into the sport, his heroes and motivation, his highlights and recent DQ story, and his hints and tips for younger riders in a highly entertaining chat, all in his usual candidate and honest style!Check out his full palmares on ProCyclingStats here...

Anyone who knows a little about African cycling knows the name Adrien Niyonshuti. The inspirational Rwandan who survived a genocide, found a purpose riding and racing bicycles, made history by qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics, had a brilliant career in the World Tour, and is now a highly successful coach to young African and international riders.Fourteen years after the London 2012 Olympics, we sat down with Adrien and the race commentator Dan Jarvis to reminisce about that seminal moment in African cycling; the release of the Rising From Ashes movie about Adrien's life (now available for free HERE on YouTube) that year which features Dan calling Adrien across the finish line to hundreds of cheering fans; and his work now with the UCI's World Cycling Centre to coach and develop young African - and other - riders. Adrien is truly one of the most inspirational African cyclists of all time. We hope you join us in celebrating this moment, enjoy a stroll down memory lane, and maybe have time to watch the Rising From Ashes movie as well!

The Tshenolo Women's Pro Cycling Team is a new African women's team, African-owned, and based in South Africa. The team is considering moving to the UCI Continental level for 2027, however for now is racing across South Africa and all relevant African races. We caught up with the team's Sport Director, Durwan Benjamin, and Lucy Young, one of their top riders, to talk about the team, the Tour du Burundi Feminin, which started on Sunday, and the riders she feels will be in contention.This race is the only UCI women's stage race on the African continent in 2026. At the time of this podcast going live, the 20yo Kazakhstan national champion Yelizaveta Sklyarova has won the first two stages, with riders from Team Amani and Tshenolo filling the rest of the top nine GC spots. Burkina Faso's strong rider Lamoussa Zoungrana has fought her way into tenth spot as well. Give the Tshenolo Women's Pro Cycling Team a follow on Instagram and we wish them well for the rest of 2026 and into 2027! #WatchTheFemmes #AfricaRising

We always are looking for stories to tell about Junior or U23 African riders as they represent the future of cycling on the continent. Our latest podcast features 21-year-old Neriah Meunier Sow, the new National Champion of Senegal!Neriah currently races for the Surne Bilbao Cycling Team in Spain as part of an international 20-rider squad of U23 athletes. He took Senegalese citizenship in 2025, with strong family ties to the West African country. He talks through his family connections, his love of the culture and how he got into cycling. Another African with Alberto Contador as his hero as a young rider.We talked to him about his career so far, his hopes and dreams for his career, and his advice for young riders trying to make it in pro cycling! Thanks for your time Neriah!