logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
14m 39s

What’s stopping Africans from winning To...

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Cycling is popular in Africa. Wherever you travel across the continent, the young and old are commuting on bikes.

Countries like Rwanda, Cameroon and Burkina Faso have their own tours.

But it seems to be an uphill climb for African riders to make it to the top of the most famous cycling competition; Tour de France.

Very few Africans have made it to the Tour and no African has won the competition.

Louis Meintjes is the highest African finisher at the Tour de France twice finishing 8th.

And he’s one of only two African riders out of over 170 riders who are taking part in this year’s Tour.

So what’s stopping Africans from racing to the top at the Tour de France?

That’s what Victoria Uwonkunda is discussing with South African Ashleigh Moolman Pasio, who’s aiming for a spot on the final podium at the Tour de France Femmes, the first women’s Tour.

Up next
Oct 27
Tanzanian elections: What issues are young people concerned about?
As Tanzania gears up for elections on 29 October, we hear from two young people about the issues that matter to them and whether youth concerns have been featured in the electoral campaigns.How a young Senegalese footballer's dream of joining a professional club ended in tragedy ... Show More
33m 44s
Oct 23
Focus on Africa: Hundreds of stolen social media identities used to spread propaganda
A BBC investigation uncovers dozens of social accounts using stolen identities of Somali and Muslim influencers and posting political propaganda content. We hear more about what was uncovered and who might be behind this widespread operation.Chad’s parliament has overwhelmingly a ... Show More
32m 11s
Oct 21
Focus on Africa Can DRC be declared ebola free?
The last ebola patient in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has been released from a treatment centre in Kasai province. Can the country now be declared free of this latest outbreak?What is behind the escalating tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea over control of the Red Sea ... Show More
29m 59s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2024
Can the Tour de France Femmes deliver?
Over its long history women have been mostly excluded from the Tour de France. Until recently.In 2022, after a long campaign by some of female cycling's biggest names, the Tour de France Femmes was introduced. So how is it doing? And will it ever be on a level footing with the mu ... Show More
17m 28s
Jun 2023
Biniam Girmay: Africa’s new cycling hero
On 1 July 2024, Biniam Girmay made history as the first black African rider to win a stage of cycling’s biggest race: the Tour de France. After a hard upbringing as one of six children in the Eritrean capital Asmara, he has become one of the most talented riders from the continen ... Show More
27m 37s
Jul 2023
Tour de France féminin 2023: portrait de quatre coureuses cyclistes
C'est une course cycliste qui n'en est qu'à sa deuxième édition mais qui suscite déjà l'enthousiasme au bord des routes et à la télévision, avec des pics d'audience à 2,5 millions de téléspectateurs. Le Tour de France féminin reste moins regardé que celui des messieurs mais il es ... Show More
4m 30s
Jul 2023
Introducing… Match of the Day Africa: Top 10
Four-time African Footballer of the Year, Yaya Touré, Africa Cup of Nations winner, Efan Ekoku, and former D.R. Congo captain, Gabriel Zakuani, debate all things African football in a new podcast from the BBC World Service, Match of The Day Africa: Top 10.   In each episode they’ ... Show More
39m 30s
Oct 2023
South Africa win Rugby World Cup
<p>South Africa's men's rugby team made history by winning a fourth World Cup title. How did they achieve it, and what does it mean for the nation and the African continent?</p><p>A BBC investigation reveals that some school teachers in Kenya are still administering corporal puni ... Show More
30m 59s
Jul 2022
Traditions iconiques - The Tour de France
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Le Tour de France</em> is a legendary bicycle race in France. But to cycling enthusiast Claire Floret, there’s something terribly wrong with it: women aren’t allowed to compete. So in order to make things right, she created a brand new cycli ... Show More
23m 27s
Jul 2024
The Tour de France: A global money spinner
It is the biggest sporting event on the planet based on the millions of spectators who line roads for a fleeting view, but this year a shake up will mean the loss of the iconic Champs Elysees finish.We look at how a cycling race became a global money spinner - particularly for it ... Show More
17m 27s