"The entire peloton will be happy that Tadej Pogacar's not participating" - Biniam Girmay sees opportunity in rival's absence at Tour of Flanders
Cycling
Currently participating at the Tour Down Under and showing some good legs in the early stages of 2024, Biniam Girmay already has one eye towards the Spring Classics.
A former Gent Wevelgem winner, Girmay was questioned by In de Leiderstrui in Australia about his goals for this year's Spring and the notable absence of Tadej Pogacar from some of the Eritrean's targeted races such as the E3 Saxo Classic and the Tour of Flanders.
"You can ask this question to the entire peloton... Since he started competing, everything has changed," Girmay says with a smile when asked if Pogacar's absence makes a win more likely for the Intermarché - Wanty star. "I also enjoy tough races, and Pogacar brings a lot of emotion to a race, even among the fans. He is an incredibly friendly guy, and it's a shame he won't be there in the spring, but the entire peloton will be happy that he's not participating, haha."
Speaking of fans, wherever Girmay goes he brings with him a legion of Eritrean support. "I love those fans. Without fans, it's nothing. They give me a lot of strength," he says gratefully, although he realises the extra pressures such support brings. "If I finish second now, they are not happy. That's great, but it also brings pressure. It comes from all sides. In Eritrea, they literally say that I have to win every day. Even when there's a mountain stage on the agenda. They want me to win, always. It only adds to my morale, but sometimes I have to laugh when I read things like that."
Kieran WoodDeputy Editor-in-Chief
Kieran Wood is a sports journalist based in Wales and has been active in journalism since 2022. He regularly contributes to DartsNews.com and CyclingUpToDate.com, where he covers professional cycling and darts. In cycling, his work includes liveblogs from major races, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, alongside race reports and analysis. He has also conducted interviews with professional riders.
His reporting spans the full racing calendar, from one-day classics to stage races, with a focus on accurate, real-time coverage and clear contextual analysis. For statistics, results, and historical context, he regularly uses resources such as ProCyclingStats. To support reporting on rider activity and training context where relevant, he also references Strava.
In his work, Kieran places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles as new, verified information becomes available.
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Front24208-11-2026 - On a positive note, you maybe notice turning this topic into a discussion has the benefit of eliminating certain participants who do not see how they can turn it back to their sole interest ;-)Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
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