After a 2024 season that etched his place in cycling
history, the spotlight was always going to be brighter on Biniam Girmay in
2025. But as the spring progresses, there is a growing sense that the Eritrean
star, one of the defining riders of last year’s Tour de France, has yet to hit
top gear in the new campaign.
While there is certainly no cause for panic, a winless run
that stretches back to July 11th, 2024, does raise some questions about his
current form. Yes, that’s right, Girmay has not tasted victory since last
year’s Tour.
Girmay’s triumphs last year were more than just race
victories, they were of course moments of sporting and cultural significance.
His win on stage 12 of the 2024 Tour de France, from Aurillac to
Villeneuve-sur-Lot, was his third of that edition. With the first of those wins,
he not only confirmed himself as one of the most fastest sprinters in the
peloton but also made history as the first Black African rider to win a Tour de
France stage.
His performances were central to Intermarché – Wanty’s strong
season, and his presence at the front of the biggest races gave Eritrean
cycling (and the sport’s global reach) a new level of visibility and pride.
In recent weeks all the pressure has been on Wout van Aert
thanks to his lacklustre start to the season. And no, Girmay has not seen a dip
in form nearly has severe as the Belgian’s, but let’s take a look at his 2025
campaign so far.
No wins yet in 2025
As of the start of April 2025, Girmay remains without a
victory this season. His best result so far was a second-place finish on stage
3 of the Volta ao Algarve in Tavira. More recently, he placed seventh at Gent Wevelgem,
a race he famously won in 2022. While that result shows he is still competitive
in the biggest one-day classics, it also highlights that the wins aren’t coming
just yet.
For a rider of his calibre, the drought is notable,
particularly given how successful some of his rivals have been out of the gate
this season.
Flash back to 12 months ago, and Girmay’s 2024 season began
with a win at the Surf Coast Classic in January, offering an early indication
of form. But it’s worth remembering that outside of that win and his Tour de
France heroics, victories were relatively sparse in the first half of the year.
This isn't entirely unusual for the 24-year-old, who doesn’t
always peak early. In that sense, 2025 is following a similar pattern, albeit
with the caveat that, so far, he’s yet to stand on the top step of the podium.
The rivals are flying
What makes Girmay’s slow start more noticeable is the pace
being set by the peloton’s other elite sprinters. Jonathan Milan, for instance,
has already won six stages in 2025. The Italian, who has twice claimed the Giro
d’Italia points classification, is enjoying a red-hot start to the season and
will make his Tour de France debut in July.
In terms of raw speed and power, Milan certainly looks to be
the strongest right now. To put things into perspective, Milan has been so
strong that Lidl-Trek have removed Mads Pedersen from their squad for this
year’s Tour.
Jasper Philipsen, one of Girmay’s main rivals at the Tour,
has also had a strong start, although his Classics ambitions may be causing
some tension in his season planning. There are questions over whether his focus
on the Spring Classics could compromise his chances in the Tour’s sprint
stages. Philipsen was unlucky just this past weekend to have a puncture during
Gent Wevelgem, at precisely the moment Mads Pedersen launched his attack.
Meanwhile, Tim Merlier is in arguably the best form of his
career, and his explosive start to 2025 has positioned him as a serious
contender this summer. In fact, Merlier has been in such strong form that
Soudal – Quick-Step have had to make room for him alongside Remco Evenepoel in
their Tour de France squad.
In that context, Girmay’s winless run stands out more than
it otherwise might. It’s not just that he hasn’t won yet, it’s that his top
rivals are racking up victories and generating momentum ahead of the Tour de
France.
No, grand tour season hasn’t started just yet. But we’re now
just three months away from the Tour getting underway. We’ll be at the start
line in the blink of an eye.
A shift in expectations
With the bar raised so high by his breakout 2024 campaign,
Girmay is now being judged against a new standard. A seventh place at Gent Wevelgem
is still an elite-level result, and second in Tavira is nothing to scoff at,
but they’re not wins. And when you’ve won three Tour stages and helped reshape
the sport’s narrative, the public and media naturally start to expect more.
Yet, it’s also important to frame Girmay’s season in
context. The Classics season is still ongoing, and the biggest targets for many
sprinters lie in the summer. Riders peak at different times, and Girmay has
historically performed best when the pressure is highest, as evidenced by his
Tour de France stage wins last July.
If Girmay can hit form in time for the Tour, all of these
questions will quickly fade. His performances in 2024 showed that he thrives on
the big stage, particularly when underestimated by his fans and critics. The
idea that he is quietly struggling may soon be replaced by a narrative of
perfect timing.
Signs of life, but no fireworks just yet
Watching Girmay’s 2025 campaign so far has been an exercise
in patience. The results aren’t poor, far from it in fact, but the absence of a
win keeps his name out of the headlines in a season where others are surging.
In Algarve, he showed he can still mix it with the fastest.
In Wevelgem, he demonstrated strength in a chaotic, wind-ravaged race that
required far more than just sprinting speed. But the killer instinct, the final
punch that defined his best rides in 2024, hasn’t quite been on display yet.
It’s possible that Girmay is simply building slowly, focusing
on form for the summer rather than peaking in the early months. At just 24
years old, he still has time to refine how he structures his season. And with
the likes of Milan, Merlier, and Philipsen all showing their cards early,
Girmay may be wise to hold back and strike when it matters most.
There is no suggestion from the rider himself or his team
that anything is wrong. But it is worth acknowledging that, in the arms race of
WorldTour sprinting, a slow start can quickly become a narrative, especially
for someone who became one of the sport’s most talked-about riders last summer.
His next few races may offer a clearer indication of where
things stand. Will he chase wins in the remaining Spring Classics? Or will his
team focus squarely on guiding him towards peak form for the Tour de France?
Either way, the question of whether Girmay is quietly
struggling or simply pacing himself will naturally continue to linger until he
gets that first win of the year.
Given the weight of what he achieved in 2024, it’s perhaps
inevitable that a winless stretch sparks scrutiny. But a closer look suggests
this may just be part of the process, a deliberate, measured build-up to
another summer of history.
And if that’s the case, Biniam Girmay is playing the long
game, and betting that, when the big races come around, he’ll be right where he
belongs.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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