As soon as the Vuelta a Espana will be over, the attention of the whole cycling world will turn towards the World Championships in Kigali. For the first time in history, the fight for the rainbow will take place in Africa. That's why Biniam Girmay's decision to skip the race disappointed many fans... until now. The Intermarché - Wanty rider has decided to take on a challenge that will be very tough for him.
Concerns about the more than 5,000 meters of elevation gain in the road race were what prompted Biniam Girmay's initial rejection. But the Eritrean, who is competing in the two World Tour classics in Canada this week, finally changed his mind for a particular reason.
"For me, the World Championship is really the only opportunity to wear the Eritrean jersey. While there is also the African Championships, every year there is a lot of uncertainty about it, which makes planning difficult. So the World Championship is my only chance. It's always special to race for my country," Girmay began in an interview with Wielerflits.
"I recently had talks with the Eritrean national federation and they need my presence at the World Championships to support the country's national team. It's the first time the World Championships are held in Africa, and I think we should give African riders a chance. However, I doubt they will perform at their best there," the Eritrean also admitted that the expectations of a result aren't unrealistic.
Biniam Girmay's plan at the World Championship
For Biniam Girmay, the plan for the World Championships road race is very clear: get into the breakaway and hope that the favorites (especially Tadej Pogacar) can't catch him:
Biniam Girmay will ride the World Championships in Kigali representing Eritrea
"It would be great to sneak into a breakaway - it's been a while since I've been in a breakaway at the start (laughs)! I hope to gain visibility during my stay there, but it will also be a challenge on this course," Girmay sentenced about his confirmed presence at the World Championships in Rwanda.
The 25-year-old is still without a victory in 2025. After a stellar 2024, where he was one of the stars of the Tour de France with three stage victories and a green jersey for the winner of Points Classifiaction, Biniam Girmay could be reunited with victory in style. Although it will be very, very hard for him. So far, the closest to a breakthrough triumph was at the Grande Départ in Lille where he arrived second.
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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