“I think this year is special" - Biniam Girmay holds the hopes of a continent at the 2024 Tour de France

With his second Tour de France getting underway later today in Florence, Biniam Girmay is very hopeful of writing more history with a first stage win over the next few weeks.

“I think this year is special," the Eritrean icon previews in quotes collected by Africa News ahead of the 2024 Tour de France, where he will be joined in the Intermarché - Wanty team by a strong sprint lineup that also includes Gerben Thijssen and support from Mike Teunissen. "we have two sprinters in one team. That means, it's less pressure for me also for Gerben."

The added options may also see Girmay turn lead out at times. "Because we can share the sprint and we can also help each other in the sprint stage, especially for Gerben if it's really flat," he explains. "I can also support him as a last man. So that means it's a good opportunity for both of us. So especially for me, this is my second year, so I learned quite a lot from last year. I'm really looking forward to have a good result.”

After becoming the first black African to win a Grand Tour stage at the 2022 Giro d'Italia, Girmay was unable to take a win on his Tour de France debut in 2023. This time around however, the 24-year-old comes with renewed optimism and some of the best form he's shown since that peak of 2022.

“Actually it's pretty successful the last three years. But still, there is a lot of things to do for the local riders, because we still have a lot difference between the pro-rider and the local, but they are still young, and they really need to improve a lot," he assesses. "Tour de France is also a really big motivation, for the local riders because this is one of the most, known race in Asmara. So I think our achievement, it can help them a lot."