"I already got what I never even dreamed of before" - No pressure for Biniam Girmay into 2025 season

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.”

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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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