Benin Makes History as First African Female National Team to Participate in a Major American Pro Road Race

June 19, 2025

Maryland Cycling Classic Adds Benin Women’s National Team to Inaugural Race

BALTIMORE (June 19, 2025) /ENDURANCE SPORTSWIRE/ – In an historic announcement, the Maryland Cycling Classic, America’s biggest and highest-ranked professional cycling road race, announced the participation of the women’s Benin National Team. It marks the first time an African federation will field a female squad for a major UCI-sanctioned American race.

The 2025 Maryland Cycling Classic will be held in Baltimore, Md. on Sept. 6, and for the first time will feature both men’s and women’s races.

“The State of Maryland and the City of Baltimore have growing cultural ties to Benin and the participation of the Benin Women’s National Team at the Maryland Cycling Classic will foster further growth,” said Terry Hasseltine, president of the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, the event producers and owners.

“As president of the Benin Cycling Federation, I am happy to accept this invitation for our women’s national team to race in the Maryland Cycling Classic, just a few weeks before the UCI Cycling World Championship makes its debut in Africa. Benin and Maryland have a strong connection, with a cultural partnership between the two, and Benin is set to attend the Global Football 2026 event. I thank Mayor Brandon Scott and Governor Wes Moore for their kind support. Our strong Amazone will do all they can to prepare for this most prestigious cycling event,” said Romuald Hazoumè, president of the Benin Cycling Federation and a strong advocate of growing his nation’s cycling pedigree.

The Benin National Cycling Federation has been rising in prominence under the direction and stewardship of Kimberly Coats, the American CEO of Team Africa Rising, originally founded by her husband Jock Boyer, the first American to race in the Tour de France in 1981. The team will use the Maryland Cycling Classic as a key preparatory race for the 2025 UCI World Championship for road cycling, which is being held in Rwanda from Sept. 21-28. It will mark the first UCI World Championship for road cycling on the African continent.

“The participation of the Benin Women’s National Team holds a lot of significance on and off the bike,” said Steve Brunner, the race’s Executive Director. “As the talent pool continues to grow on the African continent, it’s important to provide opportunities in world-class races like the Maryland Cycling Classic. Kimberly (Coats) and her team have put in a lot of great work with the Benin Cycling Federation to develop talent, especially identifying elite-level women. So, it’s great to provide a platform for these women to perform and be recognized.”

Athlos Sportswear of Baltimore, official apparel provider for the Maryland Cycling Classic, will supply custom kits for Team Benin, adding a local flavor to the initial support of the team.

A total of 15 teams of six riders are expected to comprise the Maryland Cycling Classic women’s field. Previously announced women’s teams confirmed to participate the 2025 Maryland Cycling Classic include Benin National Team, CANYON-SRAM zondacrypto (GER), CCB (USA), Ceratizit (GER), Cynisca (USA), EF Education-Oatly (USA), L39ion of Los Angeles (USA), Team USA, The Cyclery Racing Team (CAN), and Virginia’s Blue Ridge TWENTY28 (USA).

Benin Cycling Federation

Benin is one of the fastest rising nations in Africa when it comes to professional cycling. West Africa has historically lagged behind other regions in this sport with soccer dominating the region. Under the leadership of Romuald Hazoumè and in partnership with Team Africa Rising, a U.S. based non-profit, Benin has become a truly credible cycling nation, with a bright future. A key recent moment was seeing a female rider finish at the most recent UCI Junior World Championship in Zurich. President Hazoumè was re-elected in June 2025 for another term and recently enacted full equality for his female and male riders in terms of salary, equipment and opportunities.

Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland
The Maryland Cycling Classic is owned by the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland, a 501(c)3 tax exempt corporation and affiliated foundation of the Maryland Sports Commission, which is a division of the Maryland Stadium Authority, and was established in 2019 to further, promote, and move the State of Maryland forward through sports.

Maryland Cycling Classic Media Contact:

Craig Miller, KOM Sports

(719) 339-6593

Craig@KOMSports.com

MarylandCyclingClassic.us

Benin/Team Africa Rising Contact:

Jeremy Ford, Team Africa Rising

jeremy@teamafricarising.org

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