“The course is simply too hard for African riders” — Biniam Girmay lashes out at Kigali Worlds parcours, admitting he “hesitated to come”

With the road cycling world having descended on Kigali for the first-ever World Championships to be held on African soil, the continent’s biggest star has delivered a sobering assessment of the event’s headline race. Biniam Girmay, the trailblazing Eritrean sprinter and figurehead of African cycling, has voiced strong criticism of the Elite Men’s road race course, branding it “far too difficult for African riders” and revealing he almost chose not to attend.

“It’s a shame,” Girmay told reporters on Friday, in quotes collected by RMC from his pre-race press conference. “Especially as this is the first time the Worlds are being held in Africa. But the course is simply too hard for African riders.”

Coming from the man who became the first Black African to win a Classics race — Gent–Wevelgem in 2022 — and who lit up the 2024 Tour de France with three stage wins and a historic green jersey, Girmay’s comments carry significant weight. While the UCI has hailed the Kigali Worlds as a watershed moment for global cycling, Girmay’s remarks point to a deeper issue: that the course design may have inadvertently limited the very impact it was supposed to celebrate.

The Kigali circuit, with its brutal succession of steep gradients and a cumulative elevation gain rivalling the most mountainous Worlds in history. But for Girmay, who has always been more at home in punchy one-day races and bunch finishes, the terrain is a stark mismatch — and not just for him. “I hesitated to come because of how hilly the course is,” he admitted. “It’s considered one of the hardest ever. I never go to Liège–Bastogne–Liège or Il Lombardia because they’re just too hard. I don’t want to start a race just to end up not finishing.”

The Intermarché - Wanty rider pointed out that the parcours does little to accommodate the strengths of African nations, many of whom are still developing climbers capable of thriving on high-altitude, European-style terrain. “It would have been better to give African riders more of a chance,” he said. “Just look at the junior races — the results haven’t been good.”

Indeed, early signs from the youth and U23 events suggest that African riders are struggling to feature at the sharp end, despite the unprecedented home advantage. For a continent long shut out of the sport’s top tiers, the symbolism of a World Championships in Africa is undeniable. But Girmay’s frustration reflects a fear that symbolism won’t be enough — not if the racing itself doesn’t allow African riders to contend.

Despite his reservations, Girmay did ultimately make the trip — not for personal glory, but to support the Eritrean national team. “The national team asked me to come and help my teammates, and I’m fully committed to that,” he said. “In the end, I’m always proud to wear the national jersey and to represent my country. I’ll give it my all.”

Since his breakout ride at the 2021 U23 Worlds and that unforgettable Gent–Wevelgem win, he has become a symbol of possibility — the rider who broke through, not just for Eritrea, but for an entire continent. In Kigali, the weight of expectation is once again on his shoulders — even if the road ahead looks unforgiving.