Right now, around two billion Muslims – a quarter of the world’s population – are observing Ramadan, with followers of Islam fasting for a whole month between dawn and dusk. That means no food and drink for half-the-day – requiring changes to people’s daily schedules and routines, including that of cyclists.
Safiya Alsayegh is one of a few Muslim professional cyclists, having ridden for UAE Team ADQ since 2022, the women’s WorldTour’s sole Arab representative. The first female Arab to compete at the top of the sport and to go to the Olympics, Alsayegh’s racing schedule is paused during the month of Ramadan. While most of her colleagues are preparing to race the spring Classics, the 24-year-old has to adapt her training accordingly to observe the holy month which follows the Lunar calendar and moves forward approximately 11 days every year. But contrary to what many people may believe, it doesn’t mean the performance levels of her and other Muslims suffer as a result of fasting.
“I’m happy to be in a team that comes from my country and knows my culture, because in any other team I don’t think I’d be considered the same way,” Alsayegh tells Rouleur. “We work out a nutritious meal before the fasting begins, and the best meal for a workout to break fast with later. I will normally have a workout that’s not too long as we train at night. I really enjoy the night routine in Ramadan as the track where I train in Dubai is so busy with people who you’ve not seen all year long as they also train at the same time. You train throughout the day all year so to have that month at night is an experience and we get excited for Ramadan for the training.”
Training doesn’t stop, and neither does racing. “Most of the time they give me the month of Ramadan off from racing in Europe, but I am still racing locally. There are many races in my country, and two of them are televised during the month of Ramadan,” Alsayegh explains. “There’s a big push for people to stay active and do sports during Ramadan, and it’s good for me to keep up some intensity. Once Ramadan is over we have a one-to-two week adjustment period with my coaches and then we’re back racing as usual.”
During the rest of the year, outside the month of Ramadan, religion never stops playing a fundamental role in Alsayegh’s day, with her and her fellow Muslims praying five times a day. How does she fit her training around her religious commitments? “People often question that,” she laughs. “A prayer doesn't take long – it can be as short as five minutes. I'm still based in the UAE, but there are different rules for praying when travelling. The two midday prayers and the sunset and night prayer can both be combined. The afternoon is a shorter prayer as well so that’s easier for the traveller. Logistics wise it is easier when I travel, but I still have to try and manage to be there at the right time, so that means maybe praying on the team bus or around races. I schedule my training so that I’m out without bumping into prayer times, and the prayer actually gives you a break.”
Praying has a performance benefit, too. “People meditate but I don’t need to because prayer is my meditation,” Alsayegh says. “When I’m worshipping I don’t really need the extra meditation afterwards. It’s also scientifically proven that when you’re in sujud [the act of bowing down] you’re getting rid of lots of negative energy you may have because your head is on the ground.”
As per the customs of her religion, when riding Alsayegh wears a long sleeve jersey and trousers, as well as a hijab. “People think I wear leg warmers but they’re not: I wear summer leggings that our clothing sponsor Pissei created with a very special, light material for me and it keeps me protected from the sun,” she reveals. “I see that as an advantage as I’m keeping my skin safe from too much exposure to the sun.”
Alsayegh says that religion is “the purpose of my life – it's why I live. God has created us for us to worship him. That’s why I based my life around religion and it’s why I never give up my morals, my upbringing, my religion or whatever I’m doing.” Last October, Alsayegh visited Islam’s holiest city Mecca for a sixth time. ”If you can afford it, you’re obligated to go to Mecca during the Hajj period [an annual pilgrimage and the fifth pillar of Islam] at least once in your life, and I hope I can make it during Hajj in the future,” she says. “Some people spend their lives saving up to go, but if you can’t make it you are forgiven for not doing so. What I did last time was called the Umrah, which is like a mini version of Hajj, and you’re advised to go from time to time as you get your sins forgiven each time you go. Each prayer at Mecca is counted as 100,000 prayers so we really love to go there.”
Worshipping at Mecca alongside thousands of other followers is a feeling that Alsayegh struggles to describe. “It’s such a blessed feeling to be there in the holy mosque in front of the Kaaba [a stone building at the centre of Mecca known as the House of God]. Other Muslims would agree with me that when they go into the mosque for the first time it’s really an experience. I get emotional every time.”
Once Ramadan ends in mid-March, Alsayegh will return to racing with UAE Team ADQ’s development team. Her progress through the sport so far has inspired the next generation of female Muslim cyclists. “I never intended to become a trailblazer – I am just doing what I loved as a kid, and I’m happy to represent Muslims and Arabs,” she says.
Perhaps in a decade’s time there’ll be more than just Alsayegh and a handful of other professional cyclists partaking in Ramdam. “Both UAE teams are creating a pathway. There are many riders coming up and they have good representation and examples to look up to which eases the way. There’s already a big base, and the country and some of us riders have already shown that it’s possible, so now the rest is up to whoever wants to join us.”
