Girls weren’t allowed to ride bikes, but Violette (24) followed her dream and now competes at the World Championships in her homeland
On Sunday, September 21, Violette Irakoze Neza (24) will line up at the start of the World Time Trial Championships in her home country Rwanda, followed a week later by the road race. With that, her lifelong dream comes true. Yet, as a little girl, Violette was always told she was not allowed to ride a bike. Secretly, she kept training, faster and faster, until she finally earned her place at the start of the first World Championships ever held on the African continent as a rider of the Ridley Racing Team.
Rwanda is a country rebuilding after the 1994 genocide, which claimed the lives of about 800,000 to 1 million people. The “land of a thousand hills” is now writing a new, positive chapter in its history with the first Road World Championships on African soil. Fortunately, Violette did not live through the dark 1990s. Growing up in the early 2000s, nothing suggested that one day she would compete at a World Championship.
Rwanda is a country rebuilding after the 1994 genocide, which claimed the lives of about 800,000 to 1 million people. The “land of a thousand hills” is now writing a new, positive chapter in its history with the first Road World Championships on African soil. Fortunately, Violette did not live through the dark 1990s. Growing up in the early 2000s, nothing suggested that one day she would compete at a World Championship.
The forbidden bike
In Europe, every household has a car; in Rwanda, every family owns a bicycle. Farm workers use it to carry their harvest home. Still, Violette was constantly told that bikes were not for girls. So she secretly studied how the men used their pedals and brakes, and when no one was watching, she tried riding one herself. Her dream was bigger than the fear of being caught.
The boys in her village could hardly believe their eyes when they saw Violette cycling. Her parents were less amused and disappointed in their daughter. The village, too, was critical. People said she would never find a husband that way. When her father passed away, Violette managed to convince her mother that cycling was truly her passion. Thanks to a fundraising effort, she got her own bike and could finally pursue her dream.
The boys in her village could hardly believe their eyes when they saw Violette cycling. Her parents were less amused and disappointed in their daughter. The village, too, was critical. People said she would never find a husband that way. When her father passed away, Violette managed to convince her mother that cycling was truly her passion. Thanks to a fundraising effort, she got her own bike and could finally pursue her dream.
Gold medal
Once Violette had proven she belonged on the bike, she was able to ride more freely. She often encountered men’s teams, led by professional coaches. The men were surprised to see a woman on a bike. One thing led to another, and in 2018, Violette was part of the Rwandan team time trial squad that won gold at the African Championships. Her sister threw a big party: the once-forbidden cyclist had suddenly become the village hero.
Having shown what she was capable of, Violette wanted to help young girls follow in her footsteps. She studied tourism and earned a UCI coaching certificate, allowing her to work as a qualified cycling guide in her home region. At the same time, she founded her own girls’ team, giving young local talents the chance to explore the sport. Komera NEWCT quickly became a household name in Rwandan cycling.
Cycling experts in Beringen, Limburg, had already heard about Violette’s story. Not only her athletic talent but also her social project to promote cycling made her stand out. When Ridley Racing Team was founded, she was invited for a performance test and ultimately secured her spot on the roster. Since then, she has raced some of the world’s biggest gravel events, including the Traka, The Bright Midnight, and Marly Grav.
Having shown what she was capable of, Violette wanted to help young girls follow in her footsteps. She studied tourism and earned a UCI coaching certificate, allowing her to work as a qualified cycling guide in her home region. At the same time, she founded her own girls’ team, giving young local talents the chance to explore the sport. Komera NEWCT quickly became a household name in Rwandan cycling.
Cycling experts in Beringen, Limburg, had already heard about Violette’s story. Not only her athletic talent but also her social project to promote cycling made her stand out. When Ridley Racing Team was founded, she was invited for a performance test and ultimately secured her spot on the roster. Since then, she has raced some of the world’s biggest gravel events, including the Traka, The Bright Midnight, and Marly Grav.
A career highlight
Despite her own sporting career, Violette has never abandoned her girls’ team. In 2023, they started with just five members at the first training session. Today, a much larger group gathers for the weekly weekend practice. All participants are students between 12 and 18 years old. Since there aren’t enough bikes, they share them among one another. The girls come from different regions and are the same age at which Violette herself still had to ride in secret—because cycling was forbidden for women.
The progress they have made is enormous. The young riders from Violette’s project now dream of the African Championships and even the World Championships. Violette hopes to be a role model for all girls worldwide who dream of a life on the bike. The World Championships in her own country provide the perfect stage to show them what willpower and perseverance can achieve.
On Tuesday evening, September 16, Canvas will broadcast a report on Violette’s work in the third episode of Regenbogen in Rwanda. You can also watch the episode via this link.
The progress they have made is enormous. The young riders from Violette’s project now dream of the African Championships and even the World Championships. Violette hopes to be a role model for all girls worldwide who dream of a life on the bike. The World Championships in her own country provide the perfect stage to show them what willpower and perseverance can achieve.
On Tuesday evening, September 16, Canvas will broadcast a report on Violette’s work in the third episode of Regenbogen in Rwanda. You can also watch the episode via this link.
