"I already got what I never even dreamed of before" - No pressure for Biniam Girmay into 2025 season
CyclingWednesday, 27 November 2024 at 17:30
Biniam Girmay has taken the spotlight by storm over the past few years often, becoming the most successful ever Black African rider in the peloton. First it was a surprising win at Gent - Wevelgem, then a brilliant duel and win against Mathieu van der Poel at the Giro d'Italia; and now in 2024 three stage wins at the green jersey at the Tour de France.
The success he achieved at the Tour this year was unmatched amongst his peers, and he was comfortably among the most popular riders even at the Tour - with the most passionate fans, without a doubt. “Even at home, in my country, some people they only know the Tour. To win stages in the Tour and to win a green jersey, you have support all around the world so for me, I feel like this has changed a lot,” Girmay said in an interview with Cyclingnews. “It shows, you know, that people understand how hard it is to win at the Tour, and also how important is for cycling.”
Girmay had a very modest spring and then at the Giro d'Italia he crashed out right in the first days of the race. A horrible first half of the season, but a situation that led to good things in the future. "To be honest, my big goal was the Giro because I prepared so well, and all the team support was for me at that time".
"Before the Giro, I felt super strong, more than before the Tour, because I did, like for a month, an altitude camp and everything was perfect, going smooth, and the shape was super, super good. Then unfortunately the crash happened." However he did resume racing shortly after, and won the Circuit Franco-Belge before the Grand Depart. During the Tour, it were three intense weeks but they payed off in the greatest of ways.
"For me I don't care if I win two stages for next year, or one stage or I don't win green. I already got what I never even dreamed of before. I just want to work hard, enjoy my bike and if you work hard, for sure it always pays off ... I believe in that so it's not, I would say, crazy expectations for myself."
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- He did say the injury had an effect on him. But also Pogacar broke his wrist and was back on his roller the same week. Jonas was in the hospital for nearly 2 weeks and spent one of those weeks in the ICU with two collapsed lungs, seven broken ribs and a broken collarbone. You cannot compare their injuries at all. It was touch and go that Jonas would even make it to the Tour de France, no one questioned that Tadej would. Also, what are you even talking about? This is not about Jonas losing to Tadej, this is about Hinault saying Jonas likes racing less because he stopped his season early, so of course Jonas is going to bring up that he finished his season early because he was exhausted. Even Tadej with the much less serious injury pulled out of some races last year due to exhaustion. Honestly, some people look for excuses to hate on Jonas.maaiikeen27-11-2024
- Have you guys even raced?
TRjens27-11-2024 - But it's not realisticTRjens27-11-2024
- It seems more likely Hinault is loosing touch with the reality of racing. Back when he was winning TDF's training was totally different than it is now. So, take his comments with a grain of salt.. as they say.TRjens27-11-2024
- " this might be banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) as it may pose a risk for the riders' health if not done properly" - too fast cornering may also pose a risk for the riders' health...averagecyclist27-11-2024
- Jonas will go down as one the great riders. I wonder if he will comment on current riders 20 years from now.Sweep27-11-2024
- That is some very sad news. RIP Tuur, and condolences to his family and friends.
santiagobenites27-11-2024 - I agree @Sweep . I remember than Tadej NEVER said nothing about his imperfect preparation for Tour 2023 because the injury-surgery: he could use the normal bike again only 2 weeks before the start of the Tour (for example, he couldn't prepare at all the 16th TT stage). Instead Jonas cries too much. And nothing explains why if he was so exhausted, he rides Pologne Tour immediately after the tour and not world championship race, months later.
maria2024202427-11-2024 - Completely agree, that said I’m sure what he meant was slightly nuanced (and maybe lost in translation). Obviously there are places and moments you can go full throttle but there are some you can’t and an experienced peleton should not be getting into overly dangerous situations when there is absolutely no gain to be achieved. That said, this obviously becomes a contentious pount when race organisations and even the UCI do nothing or very little to help the peleton recognise these spots. Even in amateur and youth races you will often see marshals warning at critical points, this seems to have been completely abandoned at the pro level in many races. When individual riders pount out black spots to organisers months in advance, it is INEXCUSABLE they don’t evaluate and put in place measures there. This has happened more than once in 2024 alone. Another solution if riders are to be completely responsible is to send a few scouts and have a rider representative meeting before each race/day to transmit information to each team for riders in due time. In this way, they could sll agree to take it easy in bunched groups in such places.Mistermaumau27-11-2024
- Alex Carrera is his agent not his puppeteer. Maxim only can decide to break his contractabstractengineer27-11-2024