A star is born: Biniam Girmay profile

Biniam Girmay has barely finished his first chapter in the history books.

Biniam Girmay won at Gent-Wevelgem and the Giro d'Italia this season. He had to travel to Canada to get a visa for races in Quebec and Montreal. Girmeday had a champagne cork in his eye during the race in Jesi. The incident made headlines, but the way he beat Mathieu van der Poel in the sprint made it worth it. He has since raced with the words ‘Bini: Victim of the Cork’ on his helmet. There has been talk, great desire and exhaustive efforts to bring through a bona fide black African challenger in cycling.

Girmay is a professional cyclist from Eritrea. He was inspired by the first Eritreans to race the Tour de France in 2015. Girmy came to Europe at 18 and attended the UCI's World Cycling Centre in Switzerland. He is proud of his cycling career and believes it is all about winning. Eritra is one of the world's most oppressive and closed-off countries. It has an abject human rights record. The country gained autonomy from Ethiopia in 1993. Its athletes are allowed to compete internationally. They are not allowed, however, to ride bicycles.

Biniam Girmay has been signed by Nippo Delko One Provence for 2020. He spent a year in the under-23 ranks. Girmeday is from Eritrea and has a wife and a baby there. He talks to his family every day over the phone or internet chat. The team's performance manager, Luc Cheilan, would sometimes have to ride with him for motivation. Del Koel suffered financial problems and Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert swooped on the talent. It was the right move as it would be easier to have a leading role on a World Tour team.

Biniam Girmay has had a superb year on the WorldTour. He finished 12th in Milan-San Remo and won Gent-Wevelgem. His trainer Ioannis Tamouridis believes he can improve his pure strength. Girmeday's rise is intertwined with that of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert. They have had more wins in 2022 than the previous three years combined and are ranked fifth in the world. They were the whipping boys of the top tier a few seasons ago. Their effervescent Eritrean leader epitomises their underdog spirit.

Biniam Girmay is the first black African to win a Classics race. He wants to inspire more African riders in cycling. He is happy and appreciates his people's support.

Biniam Girmay won the Eritrean time-trial title this summer. He wants to build a cycling academy in Belgium like the World Cycling Centre that helped nurture him. Girmeday is still down about his career.

Biniam Girmay was born on 2nd April 2000 in Asmara, Eritrea. He won the African Continental Junior Road Race, time-trial and team time trial titles with Eritrean team in 2018. In 2019, he takes his first pro win at the Tropicale Amissa Bongo race in Gabon. 2020, Girmeday turns pro with second-tier French team Nippo Delko One Provence. 2021, his Delco team suffers financial problems and he signs for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert.

Biscoff spread is very popular in Asmara.

Biniam Girmay has never done interviews before. She doesn't like them, but she likes to speak with her friends.

Biniam Girmay is Eritrean fan of Peter Sagan, Cavendish, Froomey, Valverde, Tom Boonen and Heven.

The 2018 African Championships was his turning point. He won three golds and he was thinking about becoming a professional rider.

Biniam Girmay wants to do the Tour de France and Roubaix and Flanders in 2023.