Back in Europe - Biniam Girmay allegedly signed the deal to join the current Israel - Premier Tech
Cycling
Although it is not yet official, as expected Biniam Girmay will not ride for the renovated Lotto from next season despite a running contract with the disbanding Intermarché - Wanty. Instead, the Eritrean sprinter will bring his talent over to the current Israel - Premier Tech, which will be known under a completely different name in 2026.
According to Gazzetta dello Sport the deal has been already penned this week with only official announcement missing: "Sources have reconfirmed to us that Biniam Girmay will join the current Israel - Premier Tech from 2026: the deal is closed, only the official announcement is missing. The new name of the team is still unknown; among the rumors, we have heard talk of a Swiss bank or Visit Rwanda, among others."
The 25-year-old rider, who has not had an easy year after his incredible 2024, will move on to become the leader of a new project in the classics and sprints. Lotto will thus be without its dream duo Girmay-De Lie.
Biniam Girmay has built an outstanding track record with high-level victories. Among his major achievements are three stage wins in the 2024 Tour de France, plus the points classification of that same edition. He also won the Gent-Wevelgem in 2022, a stage of the Giro d'Italia that same year and races such as the Circuit Franco-Belge 2024, the Trofeo Alcudia 2022, the Surf Coast Classic 2024, the Classic Grand Besancon Doubs 2021 and a stage of the Tour de Suisse 2023.
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In addition to these victories, several relevant second places, such as three second places in stages of the Tour de France between 2024 and 2025, second place in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Quebec 2024 and three stage victories in La Tropicale Amissa Bongo between 2019 and 2020 marked his progression towards the elite of international cycling.
Biniam Girmay is set to move from Intermarché to new Israel team
Girmay seeks to find himself again
After a complicated 2025 in which he failed to raise his arms, he will try to increase his number of victories in a squad that, as mentioned above, still has no official name. The team led by director Kjell Carlström will try to put behind a campaign in which they have been more protagonists for the out-of-sport aspects than for their racing performances.
The deal is not confirmed on paper as the Israeli team had gone silent on its social media for an undefined period before the remainer of its 2026 lineup will be announced. But when Ciro Scognamiglio publishes about the cycling market in the Gazzetta, he is rarely wrong. IPT's current roster lists 25 names for next season, signalling that with expected contract renewals for Itamar Einhorn and Oded Kogut, the arrival of Girmay could conclude it's selection for upcoming period.
Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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