"I’ve only been to Opening Weekend once..." - Biniam Girmay looks to strike success in return to Belgium

For many years, Biniam Girmay has raced for one of Belgium's top teams in Intermarché-Wanty, however he has not often had the Opening Weekend in his schedule. In 2026, and carrying serious momentum after two wins earlier this month, the Eritrean sprinter returns to the cobbled classics where he will be an outsider to take the win in both.

“We see that all of the guys are in great shape so we’re targeting a great result this weekend,” NSN Cycling Team DS Dimitri Claeys said in a press release. “Of course, we have Biniam as our main leader, but we also have guys like Riley Sheehan, Lewis Askey, and Hugo Hofstetter on Sunday".

The team is having a modest lineup in comparison to other World Tour lineups who are also bringing their A-game to Belgium, however they have realistic chances of taking a strong result, specially at Kuurne - Bruxelles - Kuurne wher the more sprinter-friendly course favours the likes of Girmay and Hugo Hofstetter who was third last year. "Good results come from strong teamwork and we’re confident in the way the guys work together. That’s our main focus and from there, the results will come.”

“It’s quite funny, to be honest – I’ve raced at a lot of the Classics, but I’ve only been to Opening Weekend once. The year I came, I asked my old team to race, and it was OK, but other times I had a program that included Algarve and different races at this time, and other times I don’t know why I didn’t push the team to race," Girmay added. "I think that from this year on, for sure, we will come here every year.”

Girmay wants to return to the classics at full speed and take big wins such as his 2022 Gent-Wevelgem triumph which marked a breakthrough in his career. He has on multiple occasions showed his quality on the cobbles; and his ability to resist the climbs will make him a danger man for any sprint that takes place this weekend.

“We have a big and clear goal with the team, especially for Sunday [for Kuurne]. It’s going to be tough to win these races, especially on Saturday (Omloop het Nieuwsblad, ed.) with the startlist, but we will try anyway. We have a good team around me, full of strong riders who will stay with me until the last part of the races".

Girmay won a stage at the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana earlier this month; and then also the Clasica de Almeria, showing the speed required to win in the bunch sprints after a 2025 where he did not raise his arms in triumph once.

“I feel good, and also my teammates feel good. But this is the first race in Belgium, it’s always pretty hectic, so we’re just trying to find the best team spirit, because these races will help us towards our next big goals.”