The incredible back-story of how young female cyclists were evacuated out of Afghanistan

October 11, 2021

A frantic SMS with an urgent plea for help triggered a series of events that led to a daring rescue and evacuation of 165 people — among them dozens of young female cyclists — out of Afghanistan.

Just weeks ago, as the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan was collapsing under Taliban pressure, a journalist sent urgent SMS messages to contacts at WorldTour team Israel Start-Up Nation.

On Monday, the UCI sent out a press release confirming the successful evacuation of 165 Afghans who, with the help of many within the international cycling community, were able to escape the clutches of the Taliban. Velo News