3 hours ago
By Wedaeli Chibelushi & Habtom Weldeyowhannes, BBC News & BBC Tigrinya
AFP
To his fans, he is known as the “African king” – an international sensation and the first black African to win a stage in the Tour de France.
Biniam Girmay achieved this feat not just once, but three times this year at the prestigious road cycling event. The 24-year-old is on track to win the green jersey on Sunday, awarded to the best sprinter in the grueling three-week competition.
However, Girmay’s journey to success has been filled with challenges – he has faced culture shocks, European visa procedures, and the loneliness of being far away from his wife and young daughter.
Now, he is embracing his role as a hero in his home country of Eritrea and an inspiration for cyclists throughout Africa.
Many believe that Girmay’s achievements will lead to change in a predominantly white sport – in this year’s Tour de France, he is the only black rider among 176 competitors.
Girmay, also known as Bini to his loved ones and fans, was born and raised in Eritrea, a small East African nation with a population of approximately 3.7 million.
Interestingly, Girmay was not a champion in Asmara, the capital city where he grew up, or in Eritrea. He rose to fame on the international stage after being scouted by the UCI, cycling’s global governing body.
Girmay stated in an interview with Eritrean media earlier this year that it is easier to succeed at the Tour de France than to become a champion in Eritrea. Despite its small population, the country boasts many talented cyclists who have won medals in global and continental competitions.
Cycling is immensely popular in Eritrea, a sport that was adopted during the Italian colonial rule.
For many Eritreans, cycling is a source of pride in a country that often makes headlines for border conflicts and a human rights record that is criticized by rights organizations but defended by the government.
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Biniam Girmay is highly respected by Eritreans, with fans from his home country often present to support him at his races in Europe
Girmay’s passion for cycling was ignited by his cousin, African champion Meron Teshome.
His family’s enthusiasm for cycling runs deep – his younger brother is now a professional rider, and his father, a carpenter, used to watch the Tour de France with Girmay every year.
A documentary titled “This is My Moment,” which chronicles his journey, shows an elderly female relative telling him, “When I was young, no one could beat me, not even you!”
At the age of 12, Girmay won his first mountain bike competition, and as a teenager, he represented Eritrea as a junior in the African Championships.
During this time, he caught the eye of a scout from the UCI.
He was invited to train at the World Cycling Centre (WCC), an elite facility in Switzerland that hosts young athletes from countries with limited opportunities for development.
In 2018, at the age of 17, Girmay left school and his home in Eritrea to move to Switzerland.
The transition was challenging, as he had no friends or family nearby and experienced significant culture shock.
“It was tough to prepare Bini; he had to change a lot of things: his lifestyle, his routines,” recalled Jean-Jacques Henry, head of talent detection at the WCC, as Girmay geared up for the 2023 Tour de France.
“It was too cold for him when he arrived in July. For us, it was warm. He didn’t like cobblestones [which riders of Girmay’s ilk often tackle] and he didn’t understand tactics.”
However, he was determined to overcome these challenges and achieve his dream. He even took English classes to be able to conduct media interviews without a translator once he turned professional.
In 2020, Girmay was signed by the French team Delko.
While training in France, he began planning his wedding with Saliem, his partner in Eritrea.
However, the 2020 coronavirus pandemic disrupted his plans to return home and also led to the cancellation of several races in Europe.
The following year, Girmay faced another setback when Delko went bankrupt, leaving him without a team.
Despite this, he was able to travel back to Asmara to marry Saliem.
She later gave birth to their daughter, but Girmay had to leave again as he was signed by the Belgian-based team Intermarché–Wanty.
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Girmay and his wife, Saliem, hold hands as their baby daughter is carried beside them
Obtaining a visa to continue his cycling career was not easy – “This Is My Moment” documents the challenges Girmay faced while trying to secure visas at various application centers and embassies in Asmara.
Eventually, he obtained a long-term visa, which he holds to this day. However, he is required to leave the Schengen zone (comprising 29 European countries) every three months. He usually returns to Asmara during this time.
In 2022, Girmay began his streak of making history.
At Belgium’s Gent-Wevelgem, he became the first African to win a one-day classic race. Girmay was part of a four-rider breakaway in the last 30km and sprinted to victory with 250m to go.
“Veni… vidi… Bini!” exclaimed an ecstatic British commentator as he crossed the finish line. La frase, un juego de palabras en latín que significa “Vine, vi, vencí”, se ha convertido en algo así como un eslogan entre sus fans y los medios de comunicación.
Como corredor de velocidad, Girmay acelera rápidamente hacia el final de la carrera, embarcándose en una feroz carrera hacia la línea de meta.
Es una rareza, ya que en un país montañoso como Eritrea, principalmente produce “escaladores”, ciclistas que compiten especialmente bien en pendientes empinadas.
Girmay coronó su victoria en Gent-Wevelgem con otra histórica victoria de etapa en el Giro d’ Italia, que después del Tour de Francia es la segunda carrera de Grand Tour más grande del ciclismo.
Las celebraciones se vieron interrumpidas cuando Girmay fue llevado al hospital – se le había disparado accidentalmente un corcho de prosecco en el ojo en el podio de los ganadores.
Se recuperó rápidamente, pero sin su esposa e hija cerca, aún le costaba disfrutar de su victoria.
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Girmay ha representado a Eritrea en carreras en todo el mundo
A pesar de esta nostalgia, Girmay siguió luchando. Su esposa e hija finalmente se mudaron a la ciudad francesa de Niza – y lo estarán esperando después de que termine el Tour el domingo.
También observando de cerca estarán los fans del ciclismo en Eritrea.
Después de su tercera victoria de etapa en el Tour, la gente salió a las calles en Asmara, ondeando la bandera nacional y bailando al ritmo de las bocinas de los coches en celebración.
Los fanáticos eritreos a menudo acuden para apoyar a Girmay lejos de casa también – en el Tour de Suiza de 2023, un fan le dijo a la BBC: “Es un rey africano. Estamos orgullosos. Eritrea es conocida por cosas malas como la guerra, ahora es diferente.”
Girmay también representa al continente en general, Mani Arthur, quien dirige la Red de Ciclistas Negros y ha competido por Ghana, le dijo al podcast Focus on Africa de la BBC la semana pasada.
“Realmente no vemos muchos ciclistas negros, especialmente de África, compitiendo en el Tour de Francia,” dijo.
“Así que ver a Girmay no solo compitiendo sino también ganando una etapa muy codiciada es increíble. Ha demostrado ser uno de los mejores ciclistas del mundo.”
Aklilu Haile, entrenador de ciclismo eritreo que conoce a Girmay desde hace una década, cree que su éxito puede tener un gran impacto.
“A veces el ciclismo parece que es solo para personas blancas, pero ahora él nos enseña que el ciclismo es para todo el mundo,” dijo.
Después del Tour de Francia, Girmay competirá en los Juegos Olímpicos de este verano en París. Espera ganar una medalla de oro, pero esto es poco probable – es el único ciclista de ruta que representa a Eritrea y por lo tanto no tendrá a nadie que lo guíe en el pelotón para asegurar un lugar para su sprint.
También tiene grandes esperanzas para los Campeonatos del Mundo del próximo año en Ruanda, el país en el que fue descubierto por la UCI.
Para muchos, una victoria de Girmay en Ruanda tendría un gran significado.
Los fanáticos del ciclismo de todo el mundo verían a un corredor africano cruzando la línea de meta en suelo africano, antes de ser envueltos en una multitud ondeando la bandera verde, azul y amarilla de Eritrea.
AFP
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