Latest / Zone2Speak Podcast / Breaking Barriers: Florence Nakagwa Uganda's First Female Pro Cyclist at Canyon//SRAM Generation

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Breaking Barriers: Florence Nakagwa Uganda's First Female Pro Cyclist at Canyon//SRAM Generation · Zone2Speak Podcast

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Now, let's get into the episode. you.
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Here we go. Welcome back to Zone to Speak, the podcast where we dive deep into the world of cycling.
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Today, I am honored to welcome Florence Nakagawa, Uganda's first professional
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female road cyclist, a rising star in the sport.
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Florence journeys nothing short of extraordinary,
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from cycling 50 kilometers daily to deliver food to her grandparents during
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the pandemic, to becoming the 2023 Uganda National Road Champion and signing
3:02
with Canyon Shrimp Generation,
3:04
a major milestone for African women in cycling.
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But Florence's story is about more than just racing. It's about resilience,
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opportunity, and the realities of being a female cyclist from Africa.
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From battling for recognition in a male-dominated sport, to facing challenges
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like visa issues and limited opportunities, Florence has overcome immense obstacles
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to get where she is today.
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In this episode, we will talk about her racing career, her experiences in international
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competitions, and the political, social, and financial barriers African riders
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face in professional cycling.
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We will also explore gender inequality cycling, how she stays motivated,
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and her vision for the future of women's cycling in Uganda and beyond.
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This is a conversation you do not want to miss.
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And I'm just beyond happy to see where you are today because I met you in Kenya.
4:02
I think it was 2022 before you boomed.
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And to see you now in a world tour team, it really brings me a big smile because
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I know it's not an easy journey as a female cyclist.
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And I want to ask you more questions because I think it's even harder for a
4:22
female African cyclist to break so many barriers to be where you are today.
4:26
Yeah indeed because it's
4:29
like coming all the way from africa to europe
4:32
it's all hectic first
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course first of all it's really challenging
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to get to europe as an african and considering cycling within africa on the
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ladies side it's totally difficult because even for the most especially in my
4:54
country first they were known into the women in cycling.
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Music.
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By myself, just believing in what I wanted to do.
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And then with the home local club that helped me out, it's been quite hard.
5:16
I'm sure. Even after receiving the news of joining the Canyon Schwarm Racing
5:21
Generation team, it was quite emotional because I was surprised and I was like,
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things were happening too quick for me because I just started cycling.
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In 2020 but in
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that year i was just doing the fun riding and
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then coming to 2021 i decided to
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start doing some serious preparations for cycling
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and then coming to 2022 i just got an east african pro gravel racing team and
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they were offering me a contract for that year and i was like oh This is too
6:02
quick because it was actually just only one year of cycling.
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Amazing. I just want to take one step back because listeners need to know,
6:15
you started cycling during the pandemic to deliver food to your grandparents
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that were 50 kilometers away from your home.
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Yeah. And then you started the journey to competitive cycling.
6:32
But take us a little bit to your home environment.
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How was this journey of riding 50 kilometers to deliver food to your grandparents and then back home?
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And then I guess after the pandemic, like you just said, you started to have
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this drive to do some competitive events.
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Yeah because within that period
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it's like all the means of
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transport was stopped and the only transport means
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that was available was using the bike and most of
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the people were on the bikes and in
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the community they were always used to say that girls
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are not allowed to do the sporting activities and within
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that period I was already doing soccer and through
7:18
my education I was being sponsored just
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because of playing football and i was like if
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people change by the full the football side that means if i also decide to start
7:32
cycling they will start also to change and live in it because they used to say
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that the sporting activities are just for men.
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And girls were always just put aside.
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And I always used to wonder and it always kept on tickling my mind and wondering
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why, cause we are all human.
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And I believe that we all have different capacities and abilities, so.
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I was like, if I could do the 50 kilometer delivery to my grandpa's place.
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And gauging on the distances that cyclists do during their practices,
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it's kind of similar, no difference.
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And I used to see dad doing competitions and my brothers, and I used to admire
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them because for them, they were doing what they want.
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And me, I was always having no chance to do what I wanted because ever since
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I was a child, I loved cycling because most of the kids back home always watch different games.
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And me, I used to watch just cycling videos, always.
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Wow, you're ready. You're ready. You won it since the young age.
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Yeah, because I used to watch Dad coming back home with trophies, prizes.
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I was always like, I would like to get such things one day. And then dad was
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always like, but how will you do it because you're not allowed to?
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And then I was like, just wait. One day, one time, I will make people believe.
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And then during the COVID pandemic, when I started delivering foods and medicines
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to my grandpa, I brought the suggestion to dad.
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And I was like, if I can ride to my grandpa's place at ease,
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then that means I can also start cycling like in a competitive way and I see
9:45
this is my passion because however much I do football but still my passion is
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with cycling so that was like.
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I have no problem with you. So long as your mom supports you and you also love
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what you're doing, there is no problem.
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Then we'll just have to see how the community goes around with it.
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So I was like, however much the community is against me, I don't care so long
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as I have my family support.
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Amazing. I'm so happy your family supported you because, of course,
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for you as a cyclist and as an individual,
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but your journey is breaking political, social barriers.
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You're a huge catalystic change for girls in your community and in Africa.
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Yeah that's it because i was always
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like whatever whenever i try
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to go for the training rides at first
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i used to go alone whereas i also waited for
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my brothers and either dad to give me
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some training sessions so that i
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can get to know what goes around within the cycling
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community and always people
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kept on saying discouraging words but the only way I could fight back to them
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was to keep silent because I knew silence is the best way and always ignoring
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their words and kept on doing what I allowed.
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Most of them started realizing because whenever
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they say something i could not reply that
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to them and i just kept focusing because
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it was just within a few
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weeks of training with dad and
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my brothers that was a local race
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and some other female
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who wanted to participate and
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it was my first race and i
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just wondered what i would do there because i didn't
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have enough experience accordingly and
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it was like i just decided to go for it just
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minding about what that has been telling me to do during all heart sometimes
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it's not yeah it's all heart it's sometimes you don't you know you can have
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all the training but if you don't have the heart and you went with all your heart yeah so i was like.
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I just had an instinct that I will probably win because I had some training from Dan.
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And then I was like, I just had to give it a go. And I actually won the race.
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Wow. Then after overcoming to three months of training, that was a race that
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was organized in our capital city.
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It's quite far away from where I live because it's 136 kilometers away to the city.
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So I told dad I want to participate.
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However much there are going to be some other experienced riders,
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I want to try my level best with them.
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Though it's going to be my first time to be in a big race.
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Dad was like, I'm going to pay for your entry. and all you have to do is just
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keep yourself in the peloton.
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Who was going to pay for your entry? My dad.
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Oh, nice. Oh, I'm so happy he was so supportive.
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So I just told him, trust me, I won't turn you down.
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So when I reached out the rest and looking at my computers, one at the other
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side, I was afraid and nervous.
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And then at the other side, I remembered daddy's payment for the entry.
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So I was always like, hey, whenever I was having a negative side,
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I also had a positive side because I always had something that could keep me in focus.
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And within the race, all I did was keeping myself in the peloton, doing no work.
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And then in the last 10 kilometers...
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I decided to check if there will be anyone strong enough to go with me if i make any move and then,
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all i got there was that i got a group of some five ladies following and then
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i knew it means they're strong enough.
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So I was like, then we can go work together.
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And then at the end, we'll just fight for the finishing line.
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And within the sprint, I surprisingly finished third in my first big event.
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Amazing. Look at you. Not just the strength, but also the strategy of like,
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I'm going to keep my pace on the peloton.
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That's a lot of awareness to have this check-in with yourself at 10 kilometers to the finish line.
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Amazing. That's a major instinct.
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It was always like, what helped me was always like, I knew doing the cycling
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sport is a bit hard and there are always some aspects to go with within this sport.
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So I always kept myself doing researches, watching different women's races and
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seeing how they do it within the peloton.
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So I always try to use the information that I get from the internet and then
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adding on my daddy's practice.
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Nice. Were your brothers at the Masaka Cycling Club as well? Yeah.
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Okay, okay. And you joined Masaka Cycling Club, is that when you won the 2023
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Uganda National Road Championship? Yes.
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Yeah, I did. Because it was always like I wanted some people who could nurture
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me through the cycling journey and coming with the club,
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they were open and welcoming any cyclist because they were looking for Rotarians.
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And I also wanted to join.
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So however much they were mostly boys within the club, I knew they can also
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still look out for the girls. So, and all I wished was what they were doing.
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So I got to have some practices, go for rides with the boys,
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however much they were stronger than me.
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But at least within the start, I could have, I could determine,
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be determined and have a goal, set a goal for the day.
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And I could not allow them to drop me before the kilometer mark that I had into my mind.
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Very nice. If it's a 100-kilometer ride, at least I have to stick with them
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for around 50 kilometers.
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And then even if they leave, at least I've reached my goal.
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Amazing. How has your training changed now that you are at Kenya Shrem Generation Professional Team?
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So before in africa most of
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most of the times you go for the trainings
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but they are not that programmed yeah
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and you just you just ride in haole
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but right now i at least have
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i set some goals and then according to the goals the coach provides me the training
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programs and always they are under the plan and they set different goals and
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it's already set according to the power and.
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The time that I have tried focus previously I used to go for either I could
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say that now I'm going to just do 50 kilometers and it doesn't matter if I do
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them in two hours or three hours But as for now,
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most of the times I have programs whereby I have to do intervals,
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different intervals in different sets.
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And within the intervals, they are always put under specific time.
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So if I'm to do something like four hours with intervals, most of the times I go for them.
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But still also I set a goal for the distance that I want to cover within that period of time.
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And always, every day, I try my best to be the better version of me that I was yesterday.
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And it always keeps me going. So what I do today sets my focus for the next day.
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Incredible. Incredible. Your drive is amazing. tell
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me how it is to how was being
19:41
signed by canyon shrimp generation and how
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has been your journey moving from africa to
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europe like of course it's extremes
19:51
worlds how has
19:55
your experience been so far yeah actually
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at first the first time that i got to into connection
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with the canyon from generation team it
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was the time that i knew that i'm going
20:08
to participate in the world championships in
20:12
glasgow i got to chat with the can you from racing generation team director
20:19
via instagram and he used to
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send me messages wanting to know about my trainings and the way I do it,
20:29
the way how cycling is taking me within Uganda and then the last thing he told me in Instagram was that.
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He may be in terms of offering me an opportunity to join their generation team.
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And then at first, I didn't believe it because... You were through Instagram?
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Yeah. Wow. Okay. It was like, first, I didn't believe it.
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And at the other side, I had some belief within myself because I knew I was
21:08
trying my best and progressing,
21:12
but it was just everything was happening within a short period of time.
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And I saw things were going on too quick for me.
21:21
And I was like, on the other side, I said it might be a scam.
21:27
Yeah. Yeah, because with Instagram too, you're like, okay, is this real?
21:32
And it's crazy, yeah, because you started cycling through the pandemic And then
21:37
you started doing some gravel, some road cycling in 2022, 2023,
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you're a Uganda National Road Cyclist Champion.
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And then 2024, you're at Kenya Shrimp.
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Two years to go to a professional world tour team. It's amazing.
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And then I asked him, is this real? Then he was like, yeah, why not?
22:09
Then the time I got to Glasgow, he sent me a text asking me if already there.
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And I told him that I'm already within the area.
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And he told me he's also going to be there and maybe we can meet in person.
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And then I was like, maybe this is real. I started leaving and then.
22:36
Everything was going on, but
22:38
my, the patron from my, from my skar cycling club didn't know anything.
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So I was like, it seems like I'm doing things out of control.
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And I was like, maybe I need someone who can be there for me.
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And all I knew, if you have people taking you, you all have to go through the protocol.
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So I sat down and explained everything to him because within that time I had
23:12
signed also a contract with them, with the club, and it was for that year.
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So they were having control over me because they were my bosses within that time.
23:21
So I had to tell them everything that was going on and for things to be clear.
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And all he said was that that's the thing that he always wished for me.
23:34
And I was happy to hear about it and he was also surprised for me to tell him
23:39
about everything that was going on because he never thought that I can do that
23:46
because most of the times people,
23:49
if people reach out to something, they don't tend to tell their bosses or inform
23:56
anyone. and they just go.
23:57
So he was surprised, and he was like, everything is okay, and he was okay with everything going on.
24:06
And I asked him to be around with me as I went to meet the director.
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And when I reached there, he just explained everything, the way they handled
24:19
everything within the team, and he offered me the contract.
24:27
And I signed the contract from that time and all I wanted was like then after
24:37
signing the contract the next step was looking for the visa and I heard that was a big challenge.
24:46
It's a big thing for the Africans to work out on.
24:51
The visa is a bit hard to get And also, it depends on the country where you
24:59
want to go and which visa you have to get. Yeah.
25:04
I made my first visa application attempt through the German embassy.
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Okay. But all that was way too hard for me because I actually made almost two attempts.
25:22
And with each attempt, I had to pay because whenever you pay for the visa and
25:28
you're denied the visa, the fee is not returned.
25:33
Yeah. Does the team help you at all financially? It was like financially with before the end of 2023,
25:43
I had applied for Strava grant application and it went through successfully.
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So I was using the money from the travel grant. Okay, good.
25:58
Because still, I didn't know about it, but the team director from Canyon Shram
26:03
Racing Generation in town who gave me a go on it, and he sent me the link.
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And he was 100% sure that it can help me around within the visa thing and anything
26:17
that I want to do within cycling.
26:21
So I got the money, and I always had to have the accountability for the money
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and see that it's enough for whatever I had to do within that period.
26:35
And it was like it came to over half of a year before joining the team,
26:41
and I had not yet got the visa course.
26:43
I made two attempts, and they were all denied, and I'd already used a lot of money. for it.
26:52
And then one day I just had to sit down,
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have a call with the director and asked him if there is any possible way that
27:03
we can use for me to get to Europe because I really wanted to use this opportunity.
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And I said it's my opportunity. Of course.
27:13
I had to come to Europe so that
27:16
I can showcase my talent and I
27:19
was seeing it's almost half of
27:22
a year and I haven't got Europe and I
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wondered if the year ends and I'm not
27:28
yet going to the team if I will still have that opportunity
27:32
or chance to join the team for the next year but all
27:36
I had to do was keeping proper communication with
27:39
the team management and also
27:43
informed them about whatever was going on and after we decided with the team
27:52
director for me to go through the slovakian embassy apply for a temporary residence permit.
28:03
Because automatically, if you apply for a temporary residence permit,
28:07
that means you will have to,
28:08
if it's approved, though it also takes time after approval, then they will also
28:15
schedule for you an appointment for the visa.
28:18
And automatically, you will have the visa to Europe.
28:23
So that's what I went through. and it
28:26
was almost at the end of the year in
28:29
2024 because I got the
28:32
visa in early start
28:36
of December and I didn't
28:39
have any thought in my mind and I was ready for whatever comes because it was
28:46
like in my mind I always thought of what if the visa comes out and I'm not yet
28:52
ready but they tell me to fly to Europe at that very moment.
28:58
And I always try to figure out things on my own sometimes.
29:04
You are so brave. So brave. I'm such in awe of you.
29:10
Your cycling skills, your bravery in life.
29:15
I mean, it's not anyone that, you know, a lot of people just dream.
29:19
And you seized every opportunity and how
29:23
how was it to like land in europe and where
29:27
are you living now and how are you adapting how is everything it was like first
29:32
i had to because after getting the visa it was like they called me i applied
29:37
the visa through nairobi it's a different city in a different country. It's in Kenya.
29:46
The moment I traveled there, I went with just a backpack.
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Within the backpack, I had my cycling shoes and one kit plus two pairs of clothing.
30:06
And some travel documents within the backpack because I was having an intent
30:12
that they might tell me to travel to Europe the moment I pick up the visa.
30:17
And it's what happened. Wow.
30:21
So all I did was calling back home and informed mom and dad that I'm not coming back home.
30:29
I'm just going straight to Europe. Wow.
30:33
And then they were like, how is this possible? Do you have anything with you?
30:38
And you're just going but you don't know anyone there and you're on your own and I was like,
30:46
I'm going to do it the same way I've been doing it because I've ever been to South Africa by my own.
30:53
Going to the UCI training center for almost three times in South Africa.
30:59
I went to Namibia, wherever I've been traveling to alone.
31:03
So I was like, just trust me. I got this.
31:08
And after picking the visa, I talked to the director.
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He booked for me the flights and I
31:15
had to do everything from there to Europe just in touch with them and informing
31:21
them wherever I reached because from there I had to fly to through German was
31:28
it to Frankfurt and then I had to go to Portugal because the team was having a training camp there.
31:35
How fun. Portugal is beautiful.
31:38
Yeah. And reaching there It was quite emotional because I got to meet people
31:46
that I used to watch just in the cycling clips on YouTube.
31:51
And I wish to meet them in person.
31:54
And for that moment, the people I used to watch on YouTube were in front of me physically.
32:01
And your teammates now. And they're my teammates.
32:06
It was like a dream coming true. A hundred percent. Yeah, it's a pinch me moment, yeah.
32:14
Yeah, and it was like, I was quite shy for the first time.
32:22
Yeah. For the first time, I was quite shy because I was meeting new people and
32:28
I didn't know how everyone goes around within the community.
32:34
So I was like, I had to get some time to study and learn the environment and
32:41
get used to the people because I knew this is a different...
32:46
Environment from away from home because africa is different from europe and
32:53
i wonder how i'll go around with the
32:56
trainings and the altitude so it was everything was quite different but,
33:05
in all i was expecting the best and all i expected is i will say is what i'm getting already.
33:14
Because I found them friendly and I was happy about that because I was wondering
33:21
about the way how I'll be within, around them.
33:26
And there you are. Right now, I'll say that I'm with another family.
33:31
I got a new family and I take them as my family.
33:36
I see all my teammates are now my family because they're all new and they are
33:42
friendly. So they are open within everything.
33:45
And everything is running smoothly.
33:50
Because moving from Port Go, the team is based in Girona.
33:55
Are you in Girona? Yeah. I am in Girona.
34:00
Really? Yeah. We need to meet. Oh, my gosh.
34:04
Okay. Yeah, I see some of the Kenyan girls here. So we have to make sure I join you for zone one, right?
34:14
Zone one, because it's like really, last time when I sent you a message and you told me that you're.
34:23
Boarding to spain i was like i
34:26
wanted to also tell you that i'm
34:29
in spain and i forgot
34:32
so i was like wonderling maybe you never know you might come to spain but in
34:37
the same place with me so i'm here i'm right in bahi vale so we gotta we gotta
34:46
meet for sure reunion from kenya Yeah, sure.
34:53
Maybe I'll have to send you the pin location.
34:59
Yes, yes, let's do that. And do you have your schedule for 2025 as the races?
35:07
Yeah for now I have it because the
35:10
team director sent it for me but it's still starting so soon because I'm hoping
35:18
to go back home within this month because I have a tour in Namibia that I have
35:25
to go for and I have to go with the national team because,
35:30
i have to participate for the national and
35:33
they they already registered and i will have i guess within the next couple
35:42
few day of days i will have to fly back to uganda and do the rest then after
35:49
i will come back to start the season,
35:53
Oh, my gosh, that would be so much fun and probably emotional as well to be
35:57
back home and your old teammates.
36:00
You probably have a lot of new stuff to share with them.
36:04
Actually, I just want to surprise them because they are not expecting me soon.
36:14
And the thing is that when I go to call mom, she was surprised to hear.
36:20
And she was like, even if it's seeing me just for one day,
36:25
that could be enough for her because it was my first time spending the Christmas
36:33
holidays without the family and entering the new year without the family.
36:40
So it was the first time. And she was like, even if it's a single day, it's enough for her.
36:48
And then I was like, I'm sure she'll be so happy.
36:52
Expect me soon. And she's always checking if it's still in plan for me to go
37:02
back ever since I told her.
37:06
That would be amazing. So when your 2025 schedule for the races this year,
37:13
are there any of the big tours that you dreamed of and watched growing up?
37:21
Are you participating in any of those races and any dreams of participating in the Tour de Femmes?
37:29
Actually, it's like, first, I wanted to have a go within the Spanish races.
37:38
And looking on my, the first race that I had a glass on was the Spanish Cup. Okay.
37:46
And it's already on the calendar. And then there are some other races in Italy.
37:53
So I just want to see what comes around.
37:57
Because I know it's like the races decide are more competitive than in Uganda.
38:05
And the peloton is
38:08
always big and I just
38:12
want to see how my first race will go around because I've already had a chance
38:17
to participate within the field of over 200 participants and it was mind-blowing
38:25
for me and I was quite nervous because it was my first time and that was in
38:30
the world championships.
38:34
So everything is a surprise for me. And are you mainly doing road or are you
38:39
also doing some gravel races?
38:42
Mainly for now I'm on the road. Okay.
38:47
And going through this experience from Uganda to Girona in being in a world
38:53
tour team, what do you think it needs to change to create more opportunities
38:58
for African cyclists, especially females?
39:03
It's like, for now, I'm still in the generation team.
39:07
For now, I'm still in the generation team. Yeah. But all I wish for is like
39:15
talking about cycling back in Uganda,
39:19
it's a sport that people don't give too much attention and.
39:26
If you're taking cycling as your career and you live in Uganda,
39:32
it's much better you get to somewhere where they value cycling much more.
39:37
And all I wish for, whenever I watch races, I hope to, like,
39:42
first, because I know getting to where I dream of being is that it has to go through steps.
39:49
And all I wish for was getting a continental team to nurture me.
39:56
Through the steps and coming to Canyon Swarm Racing Generation Team,
40:02
I hoped and believed that I would get the best out of me through the team.
40:09
Because they have a good environment and they kind of provide everything in
40:14
a good environment for a cyclist.
40:17
And hoping with
40:21
the things that I see and the
40:24
coaches I'm having I saw it
40:26
because trainings here different and
40:31
I loved it because
40:34
it's like Uganda is a flat
40:37
country mostly and looking
40:40
at the races that I always watched they're
40:44
always mixed and they're always climbs so
40:47
I'm not gonna expect flat races and all
40:51
I decided to do was that the trainings
40:55
that I have to do because home I was
40:58
always doing the flats and try to go for camps in some areas that are hilly
41:03
but if it comes to Spain where I live mostly here in Girona the routes that
41:10
I take I prefer taking much more of the hilly courses because.
41:17
I say if you're to achieve a goal, it's like use your enemy as your target.
41:30
So I always go for climbs more than flats because all I know is that the thing
41:37
I want to work on is my climbing abilities.
41:41
So to unlock them, I have to go for the climbs mostly.
41:47
You are so driven i love it and
41:50
it's so true you know you gotta make your
41:53
how did you say your enemies you know you gotta target that you just gotta target
41:58
that and and i'm sure you're doing a great job at it and i can't wait to see
42:02
what's next for you but you said you know uganda is flat which is so funny because
42:07
you are neighbors with rwanda which is the country of a thousand hills How does that happen?
42:13
Yeah, it's like we are just in between. I would say we are in between.
42:18
Kenya is having much of the hills.
42:22
And then if it comes to Rwanda, it's mostly hilly. Yeah.
42:28
And then if I'm to do the trainings, because mostly in the place where I would
42:35
call it the province where I live, it's mostly flat.
42:39
So, if I'm to do some trainings and I'm preparing for a specific event,
42:46
I will have to look for an area that is much of the hills.
42:53
So, sometimes there is another province that is close to the,
42:57
because we share a border with Rwanda.
43:00
So, I always go and camp close to the border with Rwanda, because from there,
43:07
I can get some hills. And then sometimes I go to Kenya, all close to the border with Kenya.
43:15
Nice, nice. Yeah. I've been to Rwanda and you only go up or down there.
43:20
I don't think they have flat areas at all.
43:26
Maybe within the city then you can find some flat flat, but not too flat again. Yeah, no, no.
43:34
You only go up and down. Yeah, yeah. And do you see yourself as a role model
43:40
for future generations of female cyclists in Uganda?
43:44
Yeah, indeed. And as for now, I'll say that I'm proud of myself.
43:53
You should be. I'm an inspiration to cyclists in Uganda.
43:59
And what is much more making me much happier is that I'm not a role model to
44:07
just only the girls but also boys that's true look and you achieved I think
44:14
not only you are the first,
44:17
uganda female rider to cross
44:20
you know do this big jump to
44:24
the european team but i think you're just just
44:27
the first cyclist period not just you know female right yeah yeah sure and it's
44:33
like already back in the home club i already inspired some other girls to join
44:41
cycling and now they are looking back to the community,
44:45
it's now trying to adapt with the situation and they're now providing,
44:51
starting to provide a good environment for the girls in cycling and starting
44:56
to trust their children in cycling.
45:01
And by now, there are more than 15 girls within the home club doing the cycling. Amazing.
45:11
And already one of them is already also taking part in the UCI development program. Wow.
45:20
Amazing. So, yeah, I think not only you inspire kids and, you know,
45:27
young adults, but I think you also have been a catalyst for change in development.
45:34
Federations there or any cycling team, the training centers,
45:39
because now they are more open to having female cyclists and younger cyclists
45:43
to develop them because you brought so much hope that this actually can happen.
45:48
Yeah, actually, I'm happy about the changes that are going on because before
45:53
girls were not being cared of and even organizing events within Uganda,
45:58
they always mostly organize events for
46:01
boys and seeing that i'm getting
46:05
more competitive i always try to
46:08
interfere i'll call it interfere with
46:10
their programs because i i it always hurted me seeing the cycling calendar for
46:18
the year and looking at it the most races are for the men and looking for the
46:26
women i could not see anything of that sort.
46:30
And I had to always look for the people making the calendar within the Federation
46:35
and try to speak to some people coming from the Federation to have some changes
46:40
because I saw we should also be cared and things are now changing. So I'm more happy.
46:49
Absolutely. And congratulations. I mean,
46:52
I am so happy to see you doing what you love You definitely worked hard to be where you are,
47:00
and it is amazing how much positive change you have brought to your country
47:06
and to many little girls' and boys' lives.
47:09
Amazing. Thank you.
47:12
Florence, it's been so great to talk to you. I'm so happy to have you on the podcast.
47:18
I'm even happier to know that you are right here in Girona, and hopefully we
47:21
can see each other more often.
47:23
Yeah, very soon. Florence, your story is incredibly inspiring,
47:29
not just for cyclists, but for anyone chasing their dreams against the odds.
47:35
Thank you for sharing your journey.
47:37
To all our listeners, make sure to follow Florence and support her incredible career.
47:43
If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to subscribe, leave a review,
47:48
and share it with your fellow cyclists.
47:50
And that's all for today's episode. I want to thank the listeners for tuning
47:55
in. Your support means everything.
47:57
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48:02
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48:03
Music.