Kimberly Coats, 2022 BikeBiz Woman of the Year and one of the 2023 50 Most Influential Americans in Cycling, is the heartbeat of Team Africa Rising – a nonprofit driving cycling development across the African continent. From championing young riders to building infrastructure and fighting for women’s inclusion, Kimberly has shaped a future for the sport where representation, opportunity and ambition know no borders.
From Logistics to Leadership
‘I’m CEO of Team Africa Rising although I like to call it Chief Everything Officer because I do anything and everything!’ Kimberly laughs. From logistics and fundraising to training camps and cooking support, her role touches every part of the operation. ‘I used to own restaurants and work in business development, so I’m used to doing lots of things at once.’
Team Africa Rising emerged from Project Rwanda, an initiative sparked by mountain bike legend Tom Ritchey. As Kimberly explains, ‘Tom went to Rwanda in 2005 and invented an indestructible cargo bike for coffee farmers. Eventually, he asked Jock Boyer to help create a team and that’s how it started.’
Kimberly joined in 2009 and quickly realised they needed their own nonprofit. ‘We put the IRS nonprofit registration fees on a credit card and I took a job in Kenya to pay for the team,’ she recalls. Years later, the momentum has only grown. ‘Today, we’re connected with UCI, racing in Europe and operating camps here in Benin. We’ve built a reputation for getting stuff done.’
We don’t just teach cycling, we teach life.
Our boys know how to respect women.
They cheer the girls on. That culture matters.
Cycling for Change
A pivotal moment came in 2012 when rider Adrien Niyonshuti qualified for the London Olympics, becoming the first Rwandan to do so in cycling. ‘He told us, “If you leave, I’m quitting,”’ Kimberly shares. ‘We stayed, he kept going and now he’s the Benin national coach. That’s the legacy we’re building.’
In 2009, just 15 African nations had UCI points in the men’s category. At the end of 2024 there were 26. And on the women’s side? ‘We went from 4 countries to 21 in 2024. It’s not enough yet, but the tide is turning.’
One milestone? The 2025 World Championships in Kigali. ‘If Team Rwanda hadn’t started in 2007, this wouldn’t be happening. Seeing riders from across Africa compete on home soil will be the proudest moment of my career.’
Breaking Barriers and Building Culture
Being a woman in a male-dominated, often patriarchal industry has come with challenges. ‘I’d be in meetings where no one listened. I wrote detailed reports for the Rwandan Ministry of Sport, and they were ignored. When Jock sent out the same information, he got a reply in 30 seconds. He turned to me and said, “I get it.”’
But Kimberly doesn’t back down. ‘We don’t just teach cycling, we teach life. Our boys know how to respect women. They cheer the girls on. That culture matters.’
She’s passionate about telling women’s stories: ‘Sandrine Uwayezu trained as a mechanic with us and worked her first Tour of Rwanda with Team Illuminate in 2018. Representation like that changes minds.’
Virtual Roads, Real Progress
COVID forced a pivot. ‘We went virtual. Now, thanks to Zwift and Wahoo, kids can train in safe environments – especially important for girls,’ Kimberly explains. ‘We’ve built an area in our Team House in Benin with 27 SCOTT bikes so kids can ride, train and race. Even better, some have taken on leadership roles, like Salami, who coached three women at the Tour du Lunsar in Sierra Leone in 2024 and the Tour of Burundi.
This work isn’t just about riders. It’s about growing the sport’s ecosystem. ‘Some won’t go pro, but they can become coaches, engineers, managers. That’s how we build sustainable futures.’
What Comes Next
With new grant funding, Kimberly and her team are preparing to race in the US and Europe ahead of the 2025 World Championships. ‘They need exposure to that level of competition. There are three or four juniors who we hope will finish this extremely difficult course in Kigali.
Her vision? ‘African cyclists dominating the competition some day. Not just showing up, but winning. Like Biniam Girmay at the 2024 Tour de France. But we need to support them – they don’t have credit cards or fallbacks. It’s a huge journey to the start line, let alone the podium.’
Seeing riders from across Africa compete on home soil
will be the proudest moment of my career.
Advice and Allies
For women looking to break into the cycling world, Kimberly is clear: ‘Be super clear about what’s important to you. Forget titles and salaries. What gets you out of bed? That’s where you’ll do your best work.’
She champions solidarity: ‘I lean on other women like Kathryn Bertine and Kate Veronneau, but I also surround myself with amazing men. Sometimes we need a door opened – and that’s okay.’
And finally, for those who want to help: ‘£20 a month feeds a rider for a week. If you’re in a position of power, open a door. That’s how we all move forward.’
You can donate and learn more about Team Africa Rising here.
Women like Kimberly are the voices changing the game – on and off the field.
Follow Team Africa’s socials below or connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn.
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