When Team Africa Rising accepted the invitation to last weekend’s Maryland Cycling Classic, there was no doubt that the level of the event was considerably higher than the racing level and experience of the Benin Women’s National Team. There was no chance of a podium finish. Finishing the race was a remote possibility, and the goal the women set for themselves.

Two of the women, Hermionne and Raimatou, were already scheduled to be in the US training with a junior boy, Exodus, at TAR’s high-altitude training center in Wyoming to prepare for the UCI Road Cycling World Championships later in September. Adding the Maryland Cycling Classic was an opportune event to test their progression. The rest of their team, Charlotte and Estelle, continued their training in Benin under TAR’s coach trainee, Ezer.

The goal in my mind was much broader than finishing the race. It was to bring awareness and representation to a women’s field that would be worlds away from the realities of Benin Cycling. I wanted the Benin women to experience professional racing without getting discouraged. Still, more importantly, I wanted the US and the cycling world to know Benin – the country, the people, the work we do and have done since 2007. In a predominantly white American and European field, I wanted Baltimore to meet African women’s cycling.

And that they did.

Baltimore Times VIP Reception

Baltimore welcomed us with open arms and a celebration that I still struggle to put into words, almost a week later. The Baltimore Times hosted a VIP Welcome Reception at Creatively Black Baltimore, bringing together art, culture, and cycling. The First Lady of Baltimore, Hana Scott, delivered proclamations to the women, Adrien, and me. The women were given copies of the Baltimore Times article I wrote before their arrival. The celebration for African cycling, for these women, for our work was more than touching. It was validation that showing up in a space foreign to yourself and others matters.

For that night, the women felt validated, included, and loved. They were cycling rockstars.

Team Presentations

At the Team Presentation on Friday night, once again, thanks to the lovely introduction by the remarkable Dave Towle, they were celebrated. I kept trying to imagine what was going through their minds. Adrien was honored as the coach leading these women into their cycling futures. Team Benin and the country of Benin had arrived. 

At the Team Presentation, a lovely couple from the Ivory Coast introduced themselves to me and shared how they had come down specifically because they heard Benin was there. Then a former Peace Corps worker introduced himself. He has spent two years in Benin. The women welcomed the French conversations! Then another gentleman from Cameroon. West Africa showing their love and support to Benin.

Race Day

Race Day didn’t go according to our plan (or hopes). The course was technical, which we knew, but add in the crazy speed from the start, along with challenging road surfaces and a large pack, the flood of cortisol hijacked the women’s ability to make their best race decisions. They hung on for dear life.

Estelle was the first to separate from the peloton. We knew this going in, but she served as the fourth rider we needed to start. Surprisingly, Raimatou was off the back at 8km, which was disappointing after 4 weeks in Wyoming training, but some days it’s not your day. Both women were pulled on the first lap.

Then Charlotte went off the back, along with a slew of other women, ping ponging back and forth, trying to stay in contact with the peloton. We were down to one, Hermionne. 

Stress is a remarkable aspect of cycling. Some stress is good – both physiologically and psychologically. When stress hijacks your smart brain’s ability to make decisions — whether that’s how much to push to stay in contact with the Peloton, or knowing which gear to choose —it’s a downward spiral. Hermionne fell into the latter.

Charlotte and Hermionne were pulled after lap two of four.

We Need More Racing in Africa

What could have made the difference? Racing, more high-level racing. It wasn’t for lack of ability, it was for lack of experience. The Benin women NEVER race in events like the Maryland Cycling Classic. The MCC gave the women a glimpse into the preparation needed for the upcoming UCI Road World Championships, September 21 – 28. But it’s one race. Professional women race throughout the year in events like the Maryland Cycling Classic. African women get sent into battle with a toothpick, not a spear. It’s something TAR has said for decades – Africa needs more racing, especially because it’s getting more and more challenging to send riders to the US or Europe due to continuing visa restrictions.

How do you manage the women’s disappointment and all-encompassing fears of failure? You attempt to put things in perspective. Oranges with oranges, apples with apples. That’s all we can do until we show up again at another race, where we can test their skill and experience level.

You continue to put them in races. You continue to show the cycling world representation matters.

The Larger Perspective

As the men’s race was coming to its final laps, a large family group found us on the course watching the men’s race. They were from Benin and Togo and came out to the race because they wanted to meet their compatriots. Then some guys from Senegal showed up. It was the West Africa meet-up corner once again. These people came to the event because of Benin. They weren’t into cycling or watching cycling events. They wanted to meet these women.

I spent the day bouncing from “was it worth it?” to “could I have done something differently, better, to prepare them?” I didn’t know the answer until two young women showed up who wanted to “interview” the team. They were from the DC Bike Academy and had come to the race to meet the women from Benin. These young women, aged 13 and 15, accompanied by their coach, were thrilled to see women who look like them racing at events they aspire to compete in someday. Benin gave them hope, inspiration, and encouragement to keep chasing their cycling dreams.

For that reason, and many others off the course, it was worth it.