Biniam Girmay has came to the cobbled classics this spring with modest ambitions but may very well leave it as the big revelation. With limited experience and only 21 years of age, despite having shown quality in the past few would've expected to see him riding with the best on the E3 Saxo Bank, and specially taking the win in today's Gent-Wevelgem.
"I don't know how I did it, it's unbelievable. I really didn't expect this. This is great for the future of African cycling," Girmay said after the finish, after taking an historical victory in the cobbled classics. "We had only just changed my plans to start here, it was only Friday evening that the decision was made," he added. He had said previously this week that his classics campaign would end at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, but after finishing a surprising fourth place he decided last minute to prolong it until today's race.
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"I just came here for a good result. And for some more experience. But now I'm very happy that I decided to start in Gent-Wevelgem. I really like racing in Belgium. Friday I did not expect such a result in E3. But today it went exceptionally well. I have no words for it," he added.
As luck would have it, Girmay not only ended up in the battle for Gent-Wevelgem, but he took the win. After surviving the climbs to the Kemmelberg, Girmay was in the peloton when it regrouped in the final 30 kilometers. Several attacks surged, however Girmay was quick to react to Christophe Laporte's attack with 25 kilometers to go.
Together with Laporte, Jasper Stuyven and Dries van Gestel, he worked to have the possibility of taking the win. He outsprinted Laporte in the end: "There were strong guys to sprint against, so I was a bit scared. But in the last 250 meters I was confident, especially because I was in last position. That distance is ideal for me."
"I don't think I'll change my plans again. I've been away from home for 3 months now, so I miss my wife and daughter. I have to go home," he said. Girmay will target the Giro d'Italia in just over a month's time, and will recover before training at altitude towards the first Grand Tour of the season.
"That is the big goal of the season. We may see each other again in Belgium next year. One day I would like to win Milan-Sanremo or Paris-Roubaix. And stage victories in a Grand Tour," he concluded.
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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#GentWevelgem #RideForAntoine A DAY WE WILL REMEMBER FOREVER Thank you @GrmayeBiniam 🇪🇷❤️
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