"They told me everything's fine" - Friends reassure Biniam Girmay that Kigali World Championships will be safe
Cycling
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.
Everything is fine
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."
Biniam Girmay wearing Green jersey at the 2024 Tour de France
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."
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
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- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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