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Permalink Reply by Melissa on April 17, 2013 at 12:25pm

Afghanistan has 45 licensed female cyclists among three categories: junior, under-23 and elite, according to the International Cycling Union, the world governing body of cycling, or U.C.I. Some of these riders participated in the Asian cycling championships, held in New Delhi last month, though four of them failed to finish.

“The fact that they were at the start line is a victory of sorts,” said Dominique Raymond, the manager of National Federations and Continental Confederations for the U.C.I. Galpin said that current attitudes toward female cyclists in Afghanistan are not so different from those in the United States in the late 1800s.

“Women were often deemed promiscuous if they rode bikes in the street,” she said.

Wow, thanks for sharing.   I haven't read that book, but I'd also like to see this film, Wadjda.

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