Fariba Hashimi, who won the Afghanistan championships on Sunday, will step up to the women's World Tour level in 2023 and run for the Israeli Premier Tech-Roland team.

The 19-year-old Fariba sprinted past her older sister Yıldız in the closing stages of the 57km race near the UCI headquarters in Aigle, Switzerland.

Fifty riders took part, many of them after fleeing Afghanistan last year. They came from various European countries, Singapore, and Canada for this historic championship.

Shortly after donning the Afghan national champion jersey. Fariba Hashimi became a member of the Israeli Premier Tech-Roland team known as Roland Kogeas Edelweiss in 2022.

Yıldız will be part of the new Israel Premier Tech-Laurent Development team.

"I never dreamed of it. I will race for all Afghan women!"

"Honestly, it's very exciting, but also a lot of pressure. To be honest, I never thought I would get the chance to run for a WorldTour team or to compete in the Tour de France"

.

"I am taking this challenge head on and racing for all women in Afghanistan. My country today is dangerous for many women living there. But when you see me running in the Tour de France in Afghanistan colors, you will see that everything is possible."

Sylvan Adams, patron of the Israeli Premier Tech team, said that with the Taliban back in power after 20 years and women When the Taliban returned to power after 20 years and brutally reversed the progress toward gender equality made over the previous two decades, including a ban on sports, he was one of several people who helped many Afghan women flee.

Adams was in Switzerland for the Afghan National Championships.

"We are making history here as these two brave women are the first from their country to reach this level of sport," Adams said.

"It's part of our commitment to supporting young cyclists around the world, from developing countries to conflict zones. From our Racing for Change efforts in Rwanda and Afghanistan, we are more than a cycling team."

"We are a team of cyclists.

Fariba and Yıldız Hashimi have been based in Italy and racing with Valcar Travel & Service since fleeing Afghanistan. Fariba recently competed in the UCI Gravel World Championships.

"Both sisters raced for the Italian team, Valcar, and were promising athletes," said Ruben Contreras, owner and manager of Israel Premier Tech-Roland.

." We expect the girls to make great progress with us."