Secret operation extracts Afghan women cyclists after Taliban takeover
Report by Matteo Born and Alain Rimbert reveals how international competitors faced immediate threats and were moved in secrecy following the regime change.
An unprecedented and secretive operation was conducted to smuggle professional women cyclists out of Afghanistan following the Taliban’s seizure of power, according to a report by France 24. The investigation, titled "Escaping Kabul: ride or die," outlines how the athletes’ status shifted overnight from international competitors to individuals facing severe personal threats.
The report, published on 12 June 2026 by journalists Matteo Born and Alain Rimbert, describes the logistical effort required to remove the cyclists from Kabul. The operation was executed in complete secrecy to ensure the safety of the participants, who were no longer protected by the previous international visibility of their sport.
Prior to the regime change, the women competed on a global stage. The sudden political shift in Afghanistan resulted in immediate restrictions and dangers for public figures and athletes, prompting the urgent need for an extraction plan. The France 24 coverage frames the event as an "incredible" and high-stakes effort to preserve the lives of these professional athletes.
While the report confirms the existence of the smuggling operation and the urgency of the situation, it does not specify the exact number of cyclists involved or their final destinations. The focus remains on the mechanism of the escape and the abrupt transition from professional sporting life to a state of fear and displacement.
The publication of the video report coincides with a period of heightened geopolitical tension in the region, though the extraction of the cyclists is a distinct humanitarian and security event separate from broader regional conflicts. The France 24 account serves as a primary record of this specific instance of civil society displacement following the Taliban takeover.
