"Cycling is like football in our country. I like Lionel Messi, but I choose Biniam" - Pressures of a continent on the shoulders of Girmay
Cycling
Few riders if any, have been as well supported at the Tour de France as Biniam Girmay of Intermarché-Circus-Wanty. Alongside the immense support, from the army of fans that have flocked from Eritrea and wider Africa to see their hero, comes with it the pressures of an expectant continent.
"Cycling is in our blood. The first time I rode a bike? I don't know. I was really, really small - aged three. Really small," the 23-year-old, who so far at the Tour de France has come closest to victory on stage 7, finishing 3rd behind eventual winner Jasper Philipsen and Mark Cavendish, tells BBC Sport. "I don't know how big it is for us to win a stage of the Tour de France as an African rider - it would be amazing."
After Girmay's recent stage win at the Tour de Suisse, he was mobbed by adoring fans and draped in Eritrean flags. A genuine national hero after his historic stage win at the 2022 Giro d'Italia and last year's Gent-Wevelgem success, similar scenes could be expected if Girmay could taste victory in cycling's biggest race.
"Cycling is like football in our country. I like Lionel Messi, but I choose Biniam Girmay," says one Eritrean fan to the BBC before another supporter expands. "It is our culture. We grow every single kid with a bike. Their first gift is a bike - we use it as transport to go to school, go to work… every single person has a bike. If you visit Eritrea you will see it."
Four-time Tour de France winner and Kenyan-born, Chris Froome knows all about the impact of Girmay on cycling in Africa. "Think about it… if you're a kid growing up in the UK, you wouldn't have to look too far to find a local bike club and have organised training sessions," says Froome. "In most parts of Africa, those clubs don't exist. So, if you're 12 years old, you wouldn't know where to start."
"There's no entry plan to get you into the sport and, even if you do manage to get yourself onto the start line, let's say things go really well, how is that meant to get the attention of a team manager over in Europe?" He questions. "It feels like this uphill battle all the way. So, for these guys who have made it onto the European scene, they will have to have done something remarkable and really eye-opening."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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