Interview with Biniam Girmay: "Hard work, luck, anticipation"
On the day of the presentation of the new Tour parcours, Biniam Girmay is the only professional from the group of 2024 summer jersey winners present at the Palais des Congres in Paris. Girmay, 24 years old, grey suit, white shirt, comes from Asmara, the capital of Eritrea. At the Tour of France last July, he was the first black African to win a stage of the Tour de France; it was the third stage, which led from Piacenza to Turin. As the race progressed, Girmay took two more stage wins in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises and Villeneuve-sur-Lot. The sprinter was already wearing the green jersey of the points leader, which he kept until the end of the race. On the sidelines of the presentation, TOUR had the opportunity to speak to Girmay in private.
The interview was conducted by Stephan Klemm
TOUR: Mr Girmay, you scored a major coup with your first sprint success in Turin. Do you still remember the circumstances of your success?
Biniam Girmay: Of course I did. I still remember exactly how I felt when I realised that I had crossed the finish line first. It was a rush of happiness, it completely blew me away, I really couldn't believe it. When I realised it to some extent, I could only marvel at myself. But it was a really nice feeling.
TOUR: Were you also amazed that you won on a completely flat straight? Normally you prefer the finishing straight to be a bit steeper.
Biniam Girmay: That was another thing that amazed me. But above all, I kept telling myself that I knew where I came from, how far away the fulfilment of this dream was for me given my background, my youth in Eritrea. Even before the Tour de France, I was winning races and I suffered setbacks, defeats, crashes, I know both emotions. I know how difficult it is to win a cycling race, I've experienced it first-hand. And I've spoken to many riders who have taken part in the Tour several times but never won a single stage. Making it is hard work, luck, anticipation - but the fact that I was able to win three stages is still incredible. 2024 was only my second time at the Tour. And yet I went into the start with the ambition to be very far ahead in the sprints. And it worked.
TOUR: You won your first Tour stage in Turin, the city should have a special place in your personal sports CV.
Biniam Girmay: That's definitely the case. I was so grateful after this success. Something like that completes you and your biography. The first stage win of a Tour always stays in your memory. I couldn't sleep for more than three hours afterwards because of the excitement. The feeling of victory kept coming back to me. That was wonderful. The fact that I was then able to win a second and even a third stage was beyond my imagination before this Tour. Not to mention the green jersey. And even more so a stage win in the green jersey. I even managed that twice.
TOUR: How did you take the fact that you also won the Tour's green jersey?
Biniam Girmay: Above all, that leaves me speechless. You have to be grateful, extremely grateful. Normally you can't win everything as a sprinter, one of all the starters manages to win this jersey. The fact that it was me makes me really proud.
TOUR: How were you received in Eritrea on your return shortly after the Olympic Games in Paris?
Biniam Girmay: I rolled through the streets of Asmara in a motorcade, I was right in the middle of it. It was indescribable, thousands of people, tens of thousands were on the streets, perhaps even half the population of our capital. It was unbelievable. There are YouTube videos of my arrival and the celebration that ensued - it's still incredible for me to take it all in when I watch the videos.
TOUR: The next Tour offers some opportunities for the sprinters at the start. What is your impression of the parcours of 2025?
Biniam Girmay: I would say that the first two or three stages can definitely be something for the sprinters. And we sprinters also know that the first stage winner will take the yellow jersey, which is of course a special motivation for everyone. However, all the stages are peppered with difficulties, I don't think there are any really flat stages in the Tour. But that suits me very well. I would say that the new parcours is very balanced.
TOUR: But the route gets really tough at the end. How do you rate the highly demanding Alpine stages in the third week?
Biniam Girmay: It's very tough what awaits us in the last week. Stage 18 in the Alps has an elevation gain of 5500 metres and it leads up to the Col de la Loze at the end, which is very tough. But just one day later, we're facing another 5000 metres of climbing over a short distance of 130 kilometres. That will really hurt, I'm sure of it.
TOUR: You've just described how the first few days could well be in the sprinters' favour. After the experience of the Tour 2024, it should also be about stage wins for you again. Do you feel a certain pressure to confirm and succeed in view of your successes?
Biniam Girmay: Of course I try to be as convincing as possible whenever I'm at the start, including at the next Tour de France. But there's still a very long way to go until then. I will also ride some classics in 2025, but the Tour will be my main goal in the coming season. However, I can't count on being able to repeat the crazy time I had this summer. I can only emphasise that I didn't expect to win even one stage at the Tour. But I definitely have the ambition to really shine in 2025. And to defend the green jersey, even if it's difficult to plan something like that.
About Biniam Girmay
- Born: 2 April 2000 in Asmara, Eritrea
- Size: 1.84 metres
- Weight: 70 kilogrammes
- Professional since 2021
In 2022, the sprint specialist was the first African to win a classic race with Gent-Wevelgem. In the same spring, Girmay won a bunch sprint at the Giro, and in 2023 he won a stage of the Tour de Suisse. Girmay, who underwent a UCI development programme in Aigle, Switzerland, in 2018, made his international breakthrough at the Tour de France in the summer of 2024, where he won three stages and the green jersey for the points leader. Girmay has been riding for the Belgian team Intermarche-Wanty since 2021.
