Jamie Anderson

Jamie Anderson grew up in a small country town in south-east Australia, one of seven children. He started racing at about nine — BMX, then track and road — and dreamed of coming to Europe to turn professional. His family could not afford to send him to the biggest races, and looking back he saw that the kids who made it to the top were not always the most talented, but the ones who had the support and resources.

After moving to Belgium, Jamie began hosting young riders in his family's home in Antwerp. That grew into a bigger idea: he found and bought a 15-room hotel in East Flanders, in the land of the cobbles and climbs of the Tour of Flanders. The Flandrien Hotel runs as a real cycling hotel, and its success funds the scholarship programme sustainably and at scale.

From day one the hotel existed to support young talent, especially from parts of the world where opportunities are limited, and above all young women who need the chance to live in Belgium and race in Europe. The programme started with seven or eight athletes; this year it has hosted around 50 fully funded scholars. The vision: that any talented athlete, from anywhere, believes there is a pathway for them.