A clandestine operation successfully evacuated members of the Afghan Women's Cycling Team and their families from Afghanistan following the Taliban's return to power in August 2021. The rescue, coordinated by the nonprofit group Mountain2Mountain and other partners, extracted more than 125 people over several months.
The mission, which concluded in early 2022, involved moving the cyclists and their relatives from safe houses in Kabul to the airport and eventually to third countries. The operation was complex and dangerous, as the Taliban had banned women from most sports and public life, viewing activities like cycling as culturally unacceptable.
Shannon Galpin, founder of Mountain2Mountain, publicly detailed the effort in 2022, describing it as a "logistical nightmare" requiring significant funds and coordination with international security experts. The rescued individuals were granted humanitarian visas and resettled, primarily in Europe and Canada.
Since the evacuation, the cyclists have continued to advocate for women's rights in Afghanistan from abroad. The Taliban's rule has severely restricted women's freedoms, including a ban on sports in public spaces and the closure of most secondary schools and universities for girls and women.
