Endura today unveils a new kit for the Pump for Peace Racing Team, a remarkable group of professional mountain bike riders hailing from Iran, Lesotho, and South Africa. These exceptional athletes have conquered numerous personal challenges, and Endura is proud to support their journey.
Revealed at the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup opening round in Lenzerheide, Switzerland, the custom-designed kit showcases the vibrant spirit of the riders’ home countries and the team’s dedication to promoting peace and love.
The Pump for Peace Racing Team is a vital part of a global initiative by Velosolutions to make cycling and action sports more accessible in underserved communities. Endura believes cycling can build a better world and aims to provide these riders with opportunities to excel in high-performance cycling worldwide, become inspirational leaders, and encourage their communities to embrace an active lifestyle. The team will compete in the UCI XCO World Cup Series races, Continental Championships, and selected stage races.
Let’s meet the three incredible members of the Pump for Peace team, who have not only overcome personal obstacles but also achieved remarkable success in the sport.
Faranak Partoazar: Faranak’s first challenge in mountain biking wasn’t a sprint for the finish line but to ride freely as a woman in her home country of Iran. Since starting her professional career in 2014 she has won every Iranian Championship title as well as many international races, including Iran’s first-ever medal at the Asian Championships. Her pioneering spirit has won her thousands of fans from across the globe.
Tumelo Makae: Tumelo from Lesotho has become an icon in his cycling community, inspiring a bike-mad culture at home. With six Lesotho Championship titles, an African Championship silver medal, and a category win at the Swiss Epic stage race, Tumelo is already giving back to the next generation as a cycling coach.
Unathi Nxumalo: Unathi from South Africa grew up in a township in a rural village. Despite the tragic loss of his father and brother to gang violence, he’s determined to chase his dreams through his incredible work ethic. He’s a versatile cyclist who excels in mountain biking, road and gravel, achieving many top 10 Elite XCO finishes in South Africa.
Endura’s custom kit is inspired by the riders’ stories, incorporating design elements unique to each rider. Drawing information from the rider’s stories of hope, it features Tehran’s Azadi Tower, the Mokorotlo hat (the national symbol of Lesotho), and the South African flag. It also includes peace and love logos that embody the founding ethos of Pump for Peace to unite communities around the world through sport.
Claudio Caluori, Founder, Velosolutions and Pump for Peace, says: “Making this a true partnership means a lot to us. Enabling us to have a real impact in the communities we serve through the Pump for Peace build projects and especially our race team. We’re looking forward to many adventures with Endura.”
Noah Bernard, brand director of Endura, expressed immense pride in supporting the Pump for Peace Racing Team. “We’re stoked about our new partnerships with the Pump for Peace Racing Team. Their ethos aligns with Endura’s – removing the barriers that prevent people riding bikes. The riders’ stories have inspired our team to create an impactful kit that tells the story of both the riders and the team.”
Noah eagerly anticipates witnessing Faranak, Tumelo, and Unathi compete in the striking new kit on the World Cup circuit and later welcoming them to Scotland, Endura’s playground, for the UCI World Championships in the upcoming summer.
Follow Endura and Pump for Peace to follow the rider’s journeys.
