Tamara Zein

Tamara Zein from Lebanon came to cycling late, from a skiing background, only three or four years ago — and quickly started winning races in Lebanon and the Middle East. Getting to Europe was another story: visas, cost, no contacts, and races that ask for teams Lebanon does not have.

At the Flandrien Scholarship she found a pathway to understand cycling, not just ride the bike: coaches, team managers, professional riders, and the same peloton as them. With guidance from Kateryna in a race and long talks with programme director Cindy Pomares after hard days and a bad crash, she learned to turn setbacks into lessons — and to see the race from the team car.

Back home Tamara runs a cycling academy. With Jamie Anderson she is working on a programme for young riders from the Middle East and North Africa, to build a bridge between Belgium and Lebanon. "Talent is everywhere, but the opportunity is not."