Biniam Girmay returns to competition at national championships

Biniam Girmay will participate in the Eritrean national championships, he returns this week after the much-discussed 'cork incident' in the Giro d'Italia.

During the ceremony after his stage 10 victory in Giro d’Italia, the cork from the champagne bottle hit his eye, forcing him to abandon the race. He has since taken a break and spent time with family and friends."It was with pain in my heart that I had to leave the Giro early but the way my teammates came back made me extremely happy. Fantastic memories of my debut in a Grand Tour are etched in my memory. What Domenico Pozzovivo did for me in the last few kilometers in Jesi is something I won't soon forget," Girmay said.

"Thanks to the good follow-up of the medical team, my eye has healed in the meantime and I could resume training. I am really looking forward to the national championships, especially as they are taking place in Asmara," he pointed out, being his home town.

"The level will be high and several teams will play off their numerical superiority. It would be a huge pride to be able to display the flag of Eritrea everywhere for a year, therefore I will do my utmost," he concluded. The Eritrean is then expected to go on an altitude camp before returning to racing at the Tour of Pologne later on in the season.