"Nothing is on paper" - Biniam Girmay admits he is trying to leave Intermarché-Lotto merger and join new team
Cycling
Biniam Girmay is trying to leave Intermarché-Lotto, the team that is set to be officially announced soon and with the new names to be revealed as well. The Eritrean has for the first time spoken this openly about the topic with the media at the Tour de France Singapore Criterium where he is one of the stars, and where he confirms it is almost certain that his contract will be broken for him to join a new venture.
"In the last two years, we improved so much and we’ve already shown we’re capable of winning the big races. This year it's really pissed me off because we've lost the money, we don't have that much budget to buy riders, and to keep the good guys we have," Girmay said quite openly to Cyclingnews. "So it's not the best year because of this kind of situation."
The Belgian team, despite the modest lineup, has had financial trouble this year and the merger was even put at risk due to the money that the debt that the team had collected, which amounted to over two million. With no noteworthy results taken out of the year - Intermarché won four races, none at World Tour or .Pro level, it was simply a bad season, saved by the fact that the a World Tour maintenance was already virtually assured due to the points scored in previous years.
However that would matter little in the end, as the two Belgian teams would go on to merge, although Lotto's license will be taken and that will also be the case with most of the riders and staff. A lot of the Intermarché team will have a new path in the sport. But the merger itself has been followed by lots of drama, controversial decisions, lack of communication and agreements with riders who would then not be offered a contract - as was the case with Tom Paquot, for example.
50-50 to stay? Not anymore...
As for Girmay, at first there had been a rumour he could join UAE Team Emirates - XRG, but with great certainty he will be joining Israel - Premier Tech which is being promoted to World Tour level and having a sponsor overhaul this winter.
“Obviously, it's not the right time to speak because we don't decide personally. Of course, the merger is already happening, and tomorrow they will announce the guys who will personally stay," Girmay reveals. "Before, I was 50-50 if I stay or not; now I'm almost quite sure I will not stay."
As to his destination, he keeps it private, but also rather open that it could be to different teams. "We are still talking with some good teams, but it's just talk because I cannot do anything without knowing what my team and also without knowing if I am free or not. Nothing is done yet, nothing is on paper."
Rúben SilvaEditor-in-Chief
A founding contributor to CyclingUpToDate since its launch in January 2022, Ruben Silva has played a central role in shaping the site’s editorial direction and long-term growth. Before joining the project, he built his experience through independent blogging at Echelons Hub and by producing race previews for Ciclismo Internacional, developing a strong analytical voice rooted in daily engagement with professional cycling.
Beyond editorial work, he has been closely involved in the expansion and coordination of CyclingUpToDate’s wider network, helping establish and support sister platforms across multiple languages. This includes ongoing collaboration with CiclismoAlDia (Spanish), CiclismoAtual (Portuguese), WielrennenUpToDate (Dutch), and RadsportAktuell (German), contributing to a shared editorial vision and consistent international coverage.
He also helps oversee editorial governance across the network, setting standards for accuracy and consistency and coordinating updates or corrections when needed.
Originally from the Porto metropolitan area in Portugal, he holds a bachelor’s degree in Geography. His path into cycling journalism was shaped not through formal media training, but through independent reporting, community engagement, and sustained on-the-ground involvement in the sport.
Over the course of his career, he has conducted approximately 100 interviews across road cycling and cyclocross, ranging from one-to-one conversations and online formats to press conferences and on-site pre- and post-race coverage. His interviews include leading riders, team managers, and prominent figures within cycling media: Tadej Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, Mathieu van der Poel, Primoz Roglic, Wout van Aert, Joao Almeida and Tom Pidcock; managers like Patrick Lefevere and Joxean Matxin; and YouTube personality Bryan Kennedy (BKXC)...
Within 18 months of launch, he helped grow CyclingUpToDate’s English-language platform into one of the most-read cycling news websites, built entirely from the ground up. As both a professional journalist and lifelong cycling enthusiast, his focus remains on delivering accurate, timely, and well-contextualized coverage.
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