"They are fanatical" - Mike Teunissen in awe of Eritrean fans after teammate Girmay takes stage win at the Tour de Suisse

Mike Teunissen has become something of an Eritrean hero, simply through his association with Intermarché-Circus-Wanty teammate Biniam Girmay, who returned to winning ways on stage 2 of the 2023 Tour de Suisse, thanks in part to a brilliant lead-out by Teunissen.

“Dion Smith, then me, then Bini: that was the plan. But it was a bit chaotic," Teunissen told In de Leidestrui in a post-stage interview. “In the end it was just the plan to stay in the front. Bini came to us for a moment, but he saw the space on the left side of the road at just the right moment. That was very good of him."

Following his victory, Girmay was mobbed by the Eritrean fans who had flocked to the finish line in the hopes of seeing their hero take a victory. Caught up in the jubilant scenes was Teunissen. "'They are fanatical fans, they are everywhere," he says. "In the opening time trial, he had finished his time trial, and then they are all together at our bus. They don't get on of course, they just wait to catch a glimpse of Bini. It's very nice and he thinks it's a great honour, but he'd be happy if it was less now and then."

"There are things we need to work on, but winning is winning and that's always a bonus," he concludes, referencing the upcoming Tour de France debut of Girmay. "It's been a while now since we've ridden together, because of course he had a concussion and has been to Eritrea. Now we are going to fine-tune it."