My name is Irene Balmanoukian. Born in Brazil to a Polish‑Italian mother and an Armenian‑American father, I hold a degree in Economics from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and studied film directing at the City College of San Francisco. My passion for visual storytelling led me to the UC Berkeley Extention and the Harvey Milk Photo Center, where I honed my photographic craft.

My journey into cycling photography began in Europe in 2004, inspired by legends like George Hincapie and Lance Armstrong. Since then, I’ve immersed myself in the excitement of professional races—capturing moments of triumph and grit at the Tour de France, Paris‑Roubaix, Liège‑Bastogne‑Liège, the UCI Road World Championships, Deutschland Tour, Tour de Pologne, and many more.

Combining a cinematic eye with a journalistic approach, I travel the continent to document elite athletes in action. My goal is simple: to bring viewers as close as possible to the heart and soul of the sport.