Biniam Girmay is smashing barriers: From the Classics Issue

Biniam Girmay is smashing barriers: From the Classics Issue

Intermarché-Circus-Wanty’s Eritrean star has been one of the revelations of the last couple of seasons. He followed up his historic silver medal in the 2021U23 Worlds with victories in Gent-Wevelgem and a stage of the Giro d’Italia in 2022. He tells Rouleur in Issue 118 he’s aiming even higher in 2023

Words: James Startt

This article is an abridged version of an article published in Issue 118: the Classics. To support our independent journalism and read more about the Classics, subscribe to Rouleur to receive your edition featuring exclusive interviews with Liane Lippert and Imanol Erviti.

Cycling is actually one of the biggest sports in Eritrea, maybe even number one. And it was always a big sport in my family. My dad loved cycling, and almost every weekend there was a race nearby and my dad would take me to see it. And my older brother actually raced. I would wash his bike or go watch him train. That said, my first sport was football, and I was always playing with my friends. But as time went on, I got more and more into cycling, first simply by riding around, and then I started racing when I was already 12.

My father has been my biggest inspiration. He is a great dad. He is a carpenter and he really loved the family and his kids and he really taught me the need to work hard and be humble. In Eritrea, family comes first and he always kept us together as a family, as friends and even as part of the business. He is a really big part of my success. He is my hero. 

I would not be where I am today if it were not for a lot of Eritrean riders before me. Most recently there are guys like Daniel Teklehaimanot, Natnael Berhane or Merhawi Kudus. But even before that, there were a lot of riders in my country that were just really good, but they didn’t have the means to become professional. We have a really long history of cycling. A lot of Italians settled in Eritrea and they brought cycling with them, so cycling has real roots there.

When you race in Europe young, you race like a European. I was very lucky to be able to start racing in Europe at a very young age. That is something that a lot of my countrymen did not have. But I was fortunate. After I won the junior African championships

I was invited to be a member of the UCI development team, and that is what started my career in Europe. To be honest, after the first week at the UCI World Cycling Centre, I wanted to go home. Everything was so structured. Breakfast was at 7:00 am and at 7:30 it was finished. Lunch was the same. It was really hard to adjust. I was really close to my family and it was not easy to be away from them. But once I actually started racing things got easier. 

To read the full article with Girmay, subscribe to Rouleur and receive the latest magazine devoted to the Classics and Belgium.

Words: James Startt

READ MORE

'Hopefully the luck will come back' - Reflections on a hard Tour de France for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

'Hopefully the luck will come back' - Reflections on a hard Tour de France for Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe

Red Bull-Bora-Hansgrohe had high hopes going into the 2024 Tour de France, with a realistic target of finishing on the podium with Primož Roglič, even...

Leggi di più
At least they tried: Was Il Lombardia’s star-studded breakaway a taste of things to come to confront Tadej Pogačar?

At least they tried: Was Il Lombardia’s star-studded breakaway a taste of things to come to confront Tadej Pogačar?

The world champion took another convincing Monument victory, but other teams at least thought out of the box in trying to beat him

Leggi di più
‘No-one else is helping you find a job’: The cycling champions still without a contract for 2025

‘No-one else is helping you find a job’: The cycling champions still without a contract for 2025

There is an estimated 100 WorldTour riders still without a confirmed contract for next season

Leggi di più
Let the transfers begin: The biggest movers and shakers for the 2025 season

Let the transfers begin: The biggest movers and shakers for the 2025 season

With the transfer window officially open as of August 1, we look at some of the most intriguing moves in the men’s and women’s WorldTour...

Leggi di più
Il Lombardia 2024: Route, prediction and contenders

Il Lombardia 2024: Route, prediction and contenders

Can anyone stop Tadej Pogačar taking a fourth consecutive win in the race of the falling leaves?

Leggi di più
Opinion: What is the point in the Gravel World Championships?

Opinion: What is the point in the Gravel World Championships?

Both the men’s and women’s races were won by seasoned road professionals who will barely compete in the rainbow stripes next year

Leggi di più

MEMBERSHIP

JOIN ROULEUR TODAY

Independent journalism, award winning content, exclusive perks.

Banner Image