Encouraging Women in Nepal to Go Mountain Biking
Only 45 of the total of 700 participants in the BIKE Transalp were women this year – an absolutely expandable quota. For the 31-year-old mountain biker Laxmi Magar from Nepal, it was a very special experience to even take part in a race in which men and women start together – even as mixed teams.
In her home country she had to assert herself as the only woman among men for many years. “To compete in a stage race with so many strong women is not a matter of course for me,” says the Nepalese woman and laughs afterwards: “So many super women! I find that incredibly inspiring.”
Laxmi traveled together with her work colleague Harka Lama (43) from Kathmandu to the BIKE Transalp, both started in the individual competition. Nothing new for Laxmi: “I’m used to driving alone and fighting my way through.” Although Nepal has developed into one of the most popular destinations for mountain bikers worldwide, the sport has not yet reached the broad masses of the Nepalese, says Laxmi. “Because it is very expensive – and for women it is certainly not a matter of course! In our culture, women belong in the household to take care of the family. Or they run the household and earn money on the side.” It was therefore a huge challenge for the athlete to live her dream. “The MTB community is just dominated by men,” she says.
This was originally posted on “bike-magazin” on 2019.
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