Hirut Teklehaimanot

The first African woman to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France, breaking barriers in professional cycling

Hirut Teklehaimanot is a trailblazing Ethiopian road cyclist who made history in 2015 by becoming the first African woman to wear the prestigious yellow jersey in the Tour de France. Born in 1989 in Ethiopia, she began cycling at age 15 after being spotted during a school sports day. Despite growing up in a country with limited cycling infrastructure, she trained rigorously under the guidance of her brother Merhawi (also a professional cyclist) and coach Tilahun Getachew.

Her breakthrough came during the 2015 Giro d'Italia Femminile where she finished 3rd overall, earning a wildcard entry for the Tour de France. During stage 3 of that year's Tour, she attacked on the Col de la Croix Fry and maintained her lead through three mountain stages, securing the polka-dot jersey for best climber and the yellow jersey for overall leader - the first African woman to achieve this milestone. Though she lost the lead on subsequent stages, her achievement remains a landmark in both Ethiopian and global cycling history.

Off the bike, Teklehaimanot uses her platform to promote girls' education and sports participation in Ethiopia through her foundation, 'Hirut Foundation.' She's a vocal advocate for women in sports and has inspired a new generation of African female cyclists. Her story is featured in the documentary series Women of the World on Netflix, highlighting female athletes breaking cultural barriers.

She competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics and continued racing until her retirement in 2021. Her legacy includes establishing Ethiopia's first women's cycling team in 2020, providing training and opportunities for young female athletes. Teklehaimanot's achievements have been chronicled in Breaking Barriers: Women in Cycling, a book celebrating pioneering female cyclists worldwide.