"They told me everything's fine" - Friends reassure Biniam Girmay that Kigali World Championships will be safe

The World Championships in Rwanda at the end of this month will serve as a massive platform for cycling at the continent with first-ever cycling event of similar scale in Africa. Winner of points classification at the 2024 Tour de France - as well as three stages - Biniam Girmay will be the face of the World Championship that hopes to give birth to a new generation of African talent.

But the championship in east-african country has also seen a significant wave of criticism at the start of this year, related to the civil war in neighbor country Congo. The rebels have been openly supported by Rwandan President Paul Kagame, using the conflict to build wealth in his country. There have been even thoughts about cancelling the first African championships with alternative route reportedly prepared in Suisse.

However the UCI president David Lappartient expressed his trust in the safety of Rwanda, supported by versed Belgian organizer Golazo. And thus, despite some notable absences, the center of attention of the cycling world will shift towards Kigali.

Girmay was asked his thoughts about the issue in Bahamontes: "To be honest, I just happened to see it in the news a few months ago, about the war in Congo," says Girmay. The Eritrean is not counted among big favourites on the hard course with a lot of climbing, but even his presence alone will draw masses to the roadside.

Whereas 2024 was a peak of Girmay's career as the Eritrean stood on top of the world, the 2025 season has been a letdown for the Intermarché - Wanty sprinter, who is yet to raise his hands this year. He still hopes to break the curse of his six second places, including one at the Tour.

Earlier this year, the 25-year-old expressed uncertainty about participating at the almost home championship, but since then confirmed his start. His friend ensuring him about the situation in Kigali might've played a role in that, he hints: "But it's safe in Rwanda itself, right? I have some friends there, and Rein Taaramäe, a former teammate, often trains there."

Girmay talked to them about safety in Rwanda. "They told me everything's fine, that there's no problem. They're smart enough to keep everything running smoothly; if they're organizing the biggest one-day race of the year there, it'll be safe. I don't really think about politics and the role of sports in it."

In the past, Girmay has been to Rwanda several times, including twice as a rider. Once at the junior African Championships in 2018 when he let the world hear his name for the first time as he took three gold medals, and twice for the Tour du Rwanda. "The last time was in 2021. I have no idea what's going on there now. Africa is ten times the size of Europe; don't ask me about any specific country except cycling in Eritrea."

The Eritrean star finally confides that he isn't really keeping himself in touch with world outside of cycling. "I don't follow the world news. I'm so bad at it, I have no idea what's going on. Every now and then I see something on my phone, or I hear something from a teammate. But when I turn on my television, it's only to watch sports. Cycling, football, basketball, Formula 1, I like it all. Or to watch a documentary on Netflix, with my wife or children."