Fatima Altaie, 32, from Bahrain is about to become the first Arab woman to ride the Tour de Femmes avec ZWIFT, as she takes on The Route.
Fatima will complete the 1,175km (730 miles) over 9 days with a team of female amateur cyclists from across the globe, starting on 31st July as they ride one day ahead of the professional race.
Fatima’s love for cycling is now being paired with her ambition to raise money for UK based charity Cure Leukaemia. She has raised over £10,000 which will be used to fund The ATICUS Network, which will help children diagnosed with blood cancer to access new and innovative treatments.
Speaking on the challenge ahead, Fatima added:
“Taking on this challenge as the first Arab woman to ride the Tour de France Femmes avec ZWIFT route is an absolute honour and a responsibility I don’t take lightly. I want to show women across the Middle East and the world that our possibilities are boundless.
Cure Leukaemia Chief Executive James McLaughlin added:
“The Route has quickly transformed into a truly global event, from five riders in 2024 to over 20 on the start line this year. It is breaking down barriers and providing female cyclists from across the world with the opportunity to take on an iconic, bucket-list endurance challenge that simply wasn’t accessible to amateur riders in the past – all while uniting as one team to raise funds to support children with blood cancer.
To support Fatima’s fundraising, please visit https://www.justgiving.com/page/fatima-altaie
For more information about The Route, visit www.theroute.co.uk