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Biniam Girmay

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This article is about a person whose name includes a patronymic. The article properly refers to the person by his given name, Biniam, and not as Girmay.
Biniam Girmay
Girmay at the 2022 GP de Québec
Personal information
Full nameBiniam Girmay Hailu
Born (2000-04-02) 2 April 2000 (age 24)
Asmara, Eritrea
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight70 kg (154 lb)
Team information
Current teamIntermarché–Wanty
DisciplineRoad
RoleRider
Rider type
Amateur team
2018–2019World Cycling Centre
Professional teams
2020–2021Nippo–Delko–One Provence[1]
2021–Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux
Major wins
Grand Tours
Tour de France
Points classification (2024)
3 individual stages (2024)
Giro d'Italia
1 individual stage (2022)

One-day races and Classics

National Time Trial Championships (2022)
Gent–Wevelgem (2022)
Circuit Franco-Belge (2024)
Medal record
Representing  Eritrea
Men's road bicycle racing
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2021 Flanders Under-23 road race

Biniam Girmay Hailu (born 2 April 2000) is an Eritrean professional road cyclist who currently rides for UCI WorldTeam Intermarché–Wanty.[2][3] At the 2024 Tour de France, Biniam won the Green Jersey[4] becoming the first black African to win any jersey at the Tour. At the same Tour, he made history by becoming the first black African rider to win a Tour de France stage[5] – he won stages 3,[6] 8,[7] and 12.[8]

At the 2022 Giro d'Italia, he became the first black African cyclist to win a Grand Tour stage after winning stage 10 in a reduced bunch sprint.[9]

Career

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Early life and career

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Girmay comes from a cycling family, having watched the Tour de France with his carpenter father on television each year; both his brother and his cousin, Meron Teshome, are also professional cyclists.[10]

At 12 years old, Girmay won his first mountain bike competition, and in his teens he was selected to represent Eritrea as a junior in the African Championships, where he attracted the attention of a UCI scout, who invited him to train at the World Cycling Centre in Switzerland.[10]

Girmay left Eritrea and moved to Switzerland to join the WCC in 2018 for his second junior year.[11] That year, he became a triple junior cycling champion of Africa, winning the road race, time trial and team time trial. He also won the first stage of Aubel–Thimister–Stavelot, beating favourite Remco Evenepoel.[12]

In 2019, with the Eritrea national team, he won the third stage in a sprint of the La Tropicale Amissa Bongo, his first professional victory.[13] This made Biniam the first cyclist born in the 2000s to win a professional race. His success continued, winning stage 5 of the Tour du Rwanda in a sprint against experienced riders, including Joseph Areruya and Daniel Turek who finished 2nd and 3rd.[14]

For the 2020 season, Biniam joined UCI ProTeam Nippo–Delko–One Provence, with whom he finished second in the Trofeo Laigueglia and the Tour du Doubs.

Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux (2021–present)

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After he was let go by Delko (who subsequently folded)[10] earlier in the year, Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux announced his signing on 6 August 2021.[2][3] He made his debut for his new team days later at the Tour de Pologne.[15]

On 24 September 2021, he finished second in the under-23 road race at the UCI Road World Championships, becoming the first black African rider to achieve a podium finish in the history of the UCI Road World Championships.[16]

2022

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On 27 March 2022, in Gent–Wevelgem, Biniam was part of the winning breakaway, which also included Christophe Laporte, Jasper Stuyven, and Dries Van Gestel. In the finale, he was the first to launch his sprint, coming from the back of the group, and held on for the victory. In doing so, he became the first African winner of a classic cycle race.[17][18]

Later that season, Biniam rode his first Grand Tour at the Giro d'Italia. On stage 1, he finished second to Mathieu van der Poel in an uphill sprint.[19] Towards the next eight stages, he amassed four top five finishes in bunch sprints as well as a breakaway stage. On stage 10, in a reduced bunch sprint, he outsprinted van der Poel in a long sprint to win his first Grand Tour stage. He made history as he became the first black African cyclist to win a stage at a Grand Tour.[9] However, at the podium, as Biniam was opening the bottle of Prosecco, the wine cork hit his left eye at full speed. He was checked by race and team doctors before being sent to the hospital for treatment.[20] The following day, Biniam confirmed that he would abandon the Giro in order to let his eye injury fully heal.[21]

2023

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Biniam at the 2023 Tour de France

Biniam began the 2023 season racing in Spain, and had his first win of the year on stage 1 of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana.[22] After a lack of results in the spring, he won the second stage of the Tour de Suisse, outsprinting Arnaud Démare and Wout van Aert.[23] He entered his first Tour de France in 2023 as the team leader for Intermarché–Circus–Wanty, placing third in a sprint finish on stage 7.[24] He was one of only two African riders alongside Louis Meintjes as well as the only black rider to compete in the race.[25]

2024

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Biniam began his 2024 season at the 2024 Tour Down Under, where he finished second in the points classification.[26] A week later, he obtained his first victory of the season at the Surf Coast Classic in a bunch sprint beating Elia Viviani and Corbin Strong.[27] Biniam was announced as the team leader for Intermarché–Wanty for the 2024 Giro d'Italia.[28] He completed three stages before crashing twice on the rainy fourth day and abandoning the race with a hip injury.[29] He was able to return to racing 10 days later and, in late May, won the Circuit Franco-Belge in a sprint.[30]

He rode in the Tour de France again in 2024 and won the third stage in a bunch sprint. He became the first black African to win a stage at the Tour.[31][32] After stage 5 of the race, Biniam took the lead in the points classification,[33] marking the first time that an African rider has worn the green jersey in the Tour.[34] He took home the win in stage 8 of the race, narrowly beating reigning points classification winner Jasper Philipsen and marking his second stage win in the Tour.[35] Girmay won stage 12 of the Tour for his third stage win, beating Wout Van Aert in the sprint finish.[36][37] He maintained his lead over Phillipsen all the way to Nice to secure the points classification with a 33-point advantage.[38][10] Two days later, he and Intermarche-Wanty announced they had signed a new contract keeping him at the team until the end of 2028, while preparing himself for the 2024's Men's road race at the Olympics.[39]

Personal life

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Biniam is the second son of Girmay Hailu who is from Eritrea and his mother Freweyni, is also from Eritrea. Biniam Girmay has been married to Selam Hizkel since 2021.[10] The couple welcomed their first child in the same year.[40] He and his family currently reside in the French city of Nice.[10]

Major results

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Source: [41]

2018
African Junior Road Championships
1st Road race
1st Time trial
1st Team time trial
2nd Overall Grand Prix Rüebliland
3rd Overall Aubel–Thimister–Stavelot
1st Stage 1
3rd Trofeo Comune di Vertova
4th Trofeo Emilio Paganessi
2019 (2 pro wins)
1st Stage 3 La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
1st Stage 5 Tour du Rwanda
2020 (2)
La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3 & 6
2nd Trofeo Laigueglia
2nd Tour du Doubs
4th Giro della Toscana
2021 (1)
1st Classic Grand Besançon Doubs
2nd Road race, UCI Road World Under-23 Championships
2nd Tour du Doubs
5th Gran Piemonte
5th Route Adélie
6th La Roue Tourangelle
7th Royal Bernard Drôme Classic
7th Druivenkoers Overijse
7th Tour du Jura
9th Trofeo Laigueglia
2022 (4)
1st Time trial, National Road Championships
1st Gent–Wevelgem
1st Trofeo Alcúdia–Port d'Alcúdia
Giro d'Italia
1st Stage 10
Held after Stage 1
2nd Grand Prix de Wallonie
3rd Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec
4th Tour du Doubs
5th E3 Saxo Bank Classic
6th Bretagne Classic
7th La Drôme Classic
10th Milano–Torino
2023 (2)
1st Stage 2 Tour de Suisse
1st Stage 1 Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana
2nd Trofeo Palma
3rd Trofeo Ses Salines–Alcúdia
4th Brussels Cycling Classic
7th Grand Prix de Wallonie
7th Paris–Chauny
8th Famenne Ardenne Classic
2024 (5)
1st Circuit Franco-Belge
1st Surf Coast Classic
Tour de France
1st Points classification
1st Stages 3, 8 & 12
2nd Brussels Cycling Classic
2nd Rund um Köln
3rd Time trial, National Road Championships
7th Gent–Wevelgem
9th Antwerp Port Epic

Grand Tour general classification results timeline

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Grand Tour 2022 2023 2024
A pink jersey Giro d'Italia DNF — DNF
A yellow jersey Tour de France — 125 113
A red jersey Vuelta a España — —

Classics results timeline

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Monument 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Milan–San Remo — — 12 28 27
Tour of Flanders — — — DNF 59
Paris–Roubaix NH — — — —
Liège–Bastogne–Liège — — — — —
Giro di Lombardia — — — —
Classic 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Milano–Torino — — 10 18 —
E3 Saxo Bank Classic NH — 5 DNF 19
Gent–Wevelgem — — 1 97 7
Brussels Cycling Classic — — — 4 2
Bretagne Classic 96 DNF 6 DNF
Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec Not held 3 37
Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal DNF DNF
Paris–Tours 20 — — 14
Legend
— Did not compete
DNF Did not finish

References

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  1. ^ "Nippo Delko Provence". UCI.org. Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 8 January 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux". Union Cycliste Internationale. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Girmay Hailu joins the team with immediate effect". Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux. 6 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  4. ^ "Official classifications of Tour de France 2024 - Stage 5". www.letour.fr. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  5. ^ Church, Ben (2024-07-21). "Meet Biniam Girmay, the Black African cyclist making history wherever he rides". CNN. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  6. ^ "Official classifications of Tour de France 2024 - Stage 3". www.letour.fr. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  7. ^ "Official classifications of Tour de France 2024 - Stage 8". www.letour.fr. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  8. ^ "Official classifications of Tour de France 2024 - Stage 12". www.letour.fr. Retrieved 2024-07-21.
  9. ^ a b Fletcher, Patrick (17 May 2022). "Giro d'Italia: Biniam Girmay becomes first black African rider to win a Grand Tour stage". CyclingNews. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  10. ^ a b c d e f Weldeyowhannes, Habtom; Chibelush, Wedeali (July 22, 2024). "The African Tour de France cyclist racking up historic wins". BBC. Archived from the original on July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  11. ^ "Biniam Hailu, le vélo en famille". DirectVelo.com. 28 July 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Cyclisme: un surprenant Erythréen bat Evenepoel à Aubel" [Cycling: a surprising Eritrean beats Evenepoel in Aubel]. LaProvince (in French). 8 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  13. ^ Floyd, Tom (23 January 2019). "Tropicale Amissa Bongo étape 3: le tout jeune Biniyam Ghirmay s'offre une grande première" [Tropical Amissa Bongo Stage 3: The very young Biniyam Ghirmay gets a great first] (in French). Cyclismepro.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2019. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  14. ^ Berhanu, Markos (2 March 2019). "Eritrean Biniam Girmay takes Stage five as Kudus retains the yellow jersey". Ethiosports.com. Retrieved 3 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Debut for Ghirmay Hailu". Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux. 8 August 2021. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  16. ^ Fletcher, Patrick (24 September 2021). "Biniam Girmay: Worlds silver is for Eritrea and for Africa". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  17. ^ "Biniam Girmay: Eritrean becomes first African to win a one-day classic with Gent-Wevelgem victory". BBC Sport. 27 March 2022. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  18. ^ Puddicombe, Stephen; Ostanek, Daniel (27 March 2022). "Biniam Girmay wins Gent-Wevelgem". CyclingNews. Future plc. Retrieved 27 March 2022.
  19. ^ Ostanek, Daniel (6 May 2022). "Giro d'Italia: Mathieu van der Poel wins crash-marred uphill sprint in Visegrád". CyclingNews. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  20. ^ Becket, Adam (17 May 2022). "Biniam Girmay's stage 11 start in question after podium mishap". CyclingWeekly. Retrieved 17 May 2022.
  21. ^ Giuliani, Simone; Farrand, Stephen; Ryan, Barry (18 May 2022). "Girmay out of Giro d'Italia after podium eye injury". CyclingNews. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  22. ^ Farrand, Stephen (1 February 2023). "Biniam Girmay storms to stage 1 sprint victory at Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana". CyclingNews.
  23. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (12 June 2023). "Tour de Suisse: Girmay grabs stage 2 sprint victory ahead of Démare, Van Aert". CyclingNews. Retrieved 12 June 2023.
  24. ^ Weislo, Laura (7 July 2023). "Tour de France: Philipsen denies Cavendish, completes hat-trick in Bordeaux". Cycling News. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  25. ^ Harding, Jonathan (29 June 2023). "Biniam Girmay: Tour de France history maker". dw.com. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  26. ^ Mortkowitz, Siegfried (January 22, 2024). "Stephen Williams Scores Breakthrough Win at Tour Down Under". We Love Cycling. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  27. ^ "Surf Coast Classic: Biniam Girmay sprints to victory". Global Cycling Network. Archived from the original on January 25, 2024. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  28. ^ "Intermarché-Wanty aims for stage victories". Intermarché Wanty. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  29. ^ "Giro d'Italia: Biniam Girmay crashes twice before abandoning in the wet conditions". Global Cycling Network. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  30. ^ "Circuit Franco-Belge: Biniam Girmay powers to victory atop Col du Horlitin". CyclingNews. 29 May 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2024.
  31. ^ Whittle, Jeremy (July 1, 2024). "Biniam Girmay becomes first black African to win Tour de France stage". The Guardian. Archived from the original on July 1, 2024. Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  32. ^ Dickinson, Adam (July 1, 2024). "Tour de France 2024 Stage 3: Biniam Girmay takes histroic win as Tadej Pogacar loses yellow". Eurosport. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  33. ^ "Clasificaciones Tour de France 2024 - Etapa 5". www.letour.fr (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  34. ^ Jenny, Kristin (July 11, 2024). "13 things you didn't know about Biniam Girmay, the first Black rider to win a Tour de France stage". Cycling Weekly. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  35. ^ "Eritrea's Biniam Girmay wins second stage at Tour de France". ESPN. July 6, 2024. Archived from the original on July 7, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  36. ^ Farrand, Stephen (July 11, 2024). "Tour de France: Biniam Girmay the new sprint boss, takes third win on stage 12". Cyclingnews. Archived from the original on July 11, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2024.
  37. ^ "WOUT VAN AERT 'DISAPPOINTED' AFTER BEING 'BOXED IN' ON STAGE 12 SPRINT AT TOUR DE FRANCE". www.eurosport.com.
  38. ^ Fotheringham, Alasdair (July 21, 2024). "Biniam Girmay celebrates breakthrough green jersey success at Tour de France". Cyclingnews. Archived from the original on July 21, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  39. ^ McQuarrie, Alec. "Tour de France green jersey winner Biniam Girmay signs new deal with Intermarche-Wanty, targets Olympic Games". Eurosport. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  40. ^ Rúben, Silva (October 29, 2022). "Everything about... Biniam Girmay - Africa's rising star and World Tour superstar". CyclingUpToDate. Archived from the original on October 29, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  41. ^ "Biniam Girmay career achievements". ProCyclingStats. Retrieved 1 June 2023.
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