Eritrean Tour de France green jersey wearer Biniam Girmay has taken delivery of a unique pair of shoes from Italian brand Gaerne that are designed to celebrate his “remarkable achievements”. The 24-year-old became the first black African rider to win a Tour de France stage this year – additionally winning stages eight and 12 on top of that – and is wearing the green jersey despite a heartstopping crash at the end of stage 16 that necessitated stitches in his elbow.
Girmay already rides a custom-painted Cube Litening Aero C:68X; now Gaerne has presented Girmay with a pair of its flagship G.STL shoes custom painted with a design that, according to the brand, draws inspiration from the world of art, particularly Action Painting, also known as abstract expressionism, a style that emerged in the USA between the 1940s and 1960s with Jackson Pollock its most famous practitioner. Artist Morris Spagnol created the design for Girmay’s shoes, incorporating the Eritrean flag, the names of Biniam, his wife Saliem and his daughter Leila.
The green splashes of course symbolise the jersey that Girmay has vowed to wear all the way to Nice as well as the green of the Eritrean flag to honour his heritage and what is a historic moment for African cyclists. Girmay said after his first Tour stage win: “There are a lot of obstacles, especially if you are an African rider. It’s not easy because you race in local races so you don’t have a lot of time to show your potential. Today everyone will believe African riders can do everything.”
Ernesto Gazzola, founder and president of Gaerne, said in a press release: "We wanted to create a shoe that not only reflects Biniam's incredible journey and achievements but also celebrates the art and passion that drive both sports and craftsmanship. These shoes are a testament to the dedication and perseverance of an extraordinary athlete and the rich history of Gaerne in providing the finest footwear for champions."
Girmay said: "I'd like to thank our partner Gaerne from the bottom of my heart for this pleasant surprise. These personalised shoes are a gesture that touches and honours me, and will push me even harder during this final week of the Tour de France to bring the green jersey all the way to Nice. Within the Intermarché-Wanty team, we are fortunate to be able to count on committed partners like Gaerne, who have developed a pair of top-quality shoes. The G.STL model, with which I won three stages in the Tour de France, is remarkably comfortable and ultra-light. This customized design makes it even more special."
Receiving a pair of custom-decorated shoes is something of a rite of passage for top pro riders. Tadej Pogacar has signature DMT KRSL shoes created to commemorate his victories this year and wore an all-pink pair during the Giro – with a yellow pair undoubtedly being prepped as we speak. Mathieu van der Poel debuted a pair of rainbow-striped Shimano S-Phyres at Paris-Roubaix and at the Tour is currently wearing a white pair with silver 'MVDP' lettering emblazoned across the sides.
Check out Gaerne’s website for its cycling shoe range.
