‘You need to be brave’: Tigray’s female cyclists ride again in the aftermath of war

The mountain roads of Ethiopia’s north have long ensured it is a hotbed of cycling, until two years of conflict devastated the region. Now, fragmented teams are reforming, determined to triumphWords and pictures by Fred Harter in Axum, EthiopiaAs the cyclists wind through the mountains, team coach Tadesse Mikiele, trails in a blue minivan, making observations and discussing tactics with his staff. At one point, he beckons over the captain, Genet Mekonen, who has been trailing at the back.&