Manel Lacambra from Emporda, always linked to the world of cycling, he had been cooking a dish of those who make patchoca for some time. On a slow fire, without any rush, so that the final presentation was exceptional. Already in the summer it was known that he was working on an interesting and at the same time capital project: the creation of a women’s cycling club based in Catalonia, ready to compete at the highest level as soon as possible. After a few months of uncertainty, some clue but without yet having anything concrete for the public, this week was when the meal was served on the table. At first glance, it looks good. Starting point for the Zaaf Cycling Team, an ambitious structure that will have its base of operations in Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Lacambra will be its director and, to begin with, the bet is for the next five years. A millionaire sponsorship, capable of recruiting a cyclist like her French champion Audrey Cordon-Ragot. The main star, 33 years old and with an impressive CV, has been the best in his country in road and time trial on eight occasions in recent years.
This new structure is currently located at the UCI Continental, the second highest category i where the Massi-Tactic UCI Women’s Team has also been competing for a few years now, based in Torroella de Montgrí. It will allow the hooker Lucía García, only 18 years old, to be a professional for the first time in her career. This 2022 he has competed in the junior category track and road World Championships. Marta Romance completes the roster of Catalan cyclists. They join a group that also includes national champions, such as Canadian Maggie Coles-Lyster and Egyptian Ebtissam Zayed Ahmed.
“It’s a very beautiful, long-term project with a very nice family history behind it”, explains Lacambra, referring to the origin of this club. It has a direct relationship with the Algerian cyclist Abdel-Kader Zaafthe so-called Barrack Breaker, a pioneer of the African continent who participated in the Tour de France in the fifties. He was the protagonist of a curious story in the 1950 edition. In one of the stages, on the way to Nimes and the rider in the lead, enjoying many options to win that day, it is explained that, due to the strong heat , accepted a bottle from a spectator. It was wine and he, a Muslim and used to not drinking alcohol, ended up dizzy and on the ground a few kilometers further on. He was admitted and the next day, he escaped from the hospital ready to participate in the next stage. years later Zaaf’s grandson, Riad Belatreche, wanted to honor his grandfather by creating a club based on the Costa Brava.
