Afghanistan's women racers

Afghanistan's women racers

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Masooma Alizada carries her bicycle as she gets ready for her weekly training ride away from disapproving stares in Kabul.

Alizada is part of Afghanistan's Women's National Cycling Team, a group that has been breaking new ground for women's sports and pushing the boundaries of what is - and is not - acceptable for young women in the conservative Muslim country.

. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Zahra Alizada is one of more than 40 women who train with the group.

The team has competed in several international competitions and is pushing ahead despite not having been paid for several months, a problem for many Afghan athletes.

To clock the distances needed for training, team members pile their bikes in cars and drive outside the capital, where their uniform of loose-fitting tops and long pants won't draw stares.

. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Under the Taliban in the 1990s, women in Afghanistan were excluded from public life, banned from going to school or stepping outside their home without a male family member.

Women's rights have made gains since the hardline Islamist group was ousted in 2001, but observers worry that progress is at risk as gender-based violence persists and women remain under-represented in politics.

Drivers sometimes shout profanities at the team members, and their captain grapples with a back injury from a crash after a man on a motorbike reached out to grab her.

. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi, the team’s coach and president of the Afghan Cycling Federation, said he was not overly concerned. "These are people who don't let their children go to school," he said.

"The coach is like a shield for us," said team member Malika Yousufi. "If he wasn't there, we couldn't ride."

. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Yousufi (centre) said she was determined to become the first Afghan woman to compete in the Tour de France, a cycling race dominated by men since its first event in 1903.

"Nothing will stop us," she said.

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Slideshow

Masooma Alizada is reflected in a mirror.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Masooma Alizada is reflected in a mirror.

The team have breakfast with their coach Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

The team have breakfast with their coach Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi.

A bicycle pump stands in the coach’s home.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A bicycle pump stands in the coach’s home.

Masooma Alizada exercises.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Masooma Alizada exercises.

Zhala (left), Maryam Sediqi (centre) and Malika Yousufi (right) leave for training.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Zhala (left), Maryam Sediqi (centre) and Malika Yousufi (right) leave for training.

Team members prepare for their training.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Team members prepare for their training.

Zhala unloads her bicycle as she arrives at the exercise area on the outskirts of Kabul.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Zhala unloads her bicycle as she arrives at the exercise area on the outskirts of Kabul.

Masooma Alizada eats an orange after training.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Masooma Alizada eats an orange after training.

Masooma Alizada and Frozan Rasooli (right) prepare a bicycle.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Masooma Alizada and Frozan Rasooli (right) prepare a bicycle.

Team members take a break.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Team members take a break.

Zhala rides her bike.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Zhala rides her bike.

Zhala leads the pack.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Zhala leads the pack.

Coach Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi encourages his riders.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Coach Abdul Sadiq Sadiqi encourages his riders.

A bicycle lies on the ground.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

A bicycle lies on the ground.

Team members rest on the back of a car.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Team members rest on the back of a car.

Team members slide down a snowy mountain in Qargha.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Team members slide down a snowy mountain in Qargha.

Team members climb up a snowy mountain.
. KABUL, AFGHANISTAN. REUTERS/Mohammad Ismail

Team members climb up a snowy mountain.