"Maybe you should go even more to the Van der Poel side in the future" - Intermarché believe Biniam Girmay still has a lot to develop and could learn from Mathieu van der Poel

Intermarché - Circus - Wanty manager Aike Visbeek has been very vocal on the team's support on Biniam Girmay, and the focus on the Eritrean is already giving profit as he entered the season winning.

"That was an important milestone, but then you have to be able to offer him the foundation of an organization as a team," Visbeek told In de Leiderstrui. Girmay broke through last year with victories at Gent-Wevelgem and the Giro d'Italia, despite his young age and lack of experience in the cobbles.

The Belgian team had decisions to make as budget wasn't enough for everyone, but Girmay was chosen to be the team's leader. A contract extension until 2026 and salary increase pushed away doubts of who was the team's bet. Mike Teunissen was brought in over the winter aswell as the team looked to build a leadout for the 22-year old.

"From the first moment I had the feeling that Biniam and Mike would be a good combination. Also because that dexterity and experience Mike has are now the lessons that Biniam is learning," Visbeek explained. "Mike has already paid his tuition. Bini needs guys who know the course well, but also have a calm character. Yet he is also direct. If we have a meeting and he finds something, he dares to say so. We have a good balance in that respect."

Girmay rode finished on the podium twice during the Mallorca Challenge, and won the opening sprint of the Volta a Comunitat Valenciana. That is the fruit of the work done over the past year to give Girmay the chance to lead the team.

“There is some pressure on his shoulders, but I don't think it bothers Bini. He is quite imperturbable and, with all due respect to you, is not really concerned about what you write about him. When Mike is riding Omloop Het Nieuwsblad, for example, he is nervous. That is not the case with Bini and that is a blessing. He is, so to speak, less aware of the impact of such a race," Visbeek argues.

"There is still a lot of potential. The experience factor, the factor where we work with him as a team. We can still fine-tune and he is still only 22 years old', Visbeek points out the age of his group several times. 'We sometimes forget that, he still only has a very short history in cycling.'

"He is now someone who does it in the fast sprints, but maybe you should go even more to the Van der Poel side in the future. Then we might be able to make it a bit lighter, also because it is not yet at its maximum in terms of nutrition. We try to do that calmly and in a good way. All in all, a lot of progress is still possible," he concludes.

Girmay is riding the spring classics again this year and will have more eyes on him at the start. The Tour des Flandres and Paris-Roubaix will be interesting goals, however more races will suit his skills as he looks to ride to further wins before focusing on the Tour de France and World Championships in the summer.