"To create history is my goal" - Henok Mulubrhan dreaming of Tour de France stage win

After being crowned African Cyclist of the Year in 2023, 24-year-old Eritrean Henok Mulubrhan has big goals for his 2024 campaign, including what would be a historic stage win at the Tour de France.

“Whether it’s me or Biniam Girmay who gets that stage victory in the Tour de France, I don’t know, but to win a stage in the Tour and to create history is also my goal,” Mulubrhan, who joins the World Tour in 2024 with the Astana Qazaqstan Team, told Velo. “In shorter stage races, I’m good on smaller climbs and have a good sprint so I can participate in the GC. I can also do good results on longer climbs and on the flat.”

Mulubrhan's aforementioned compatriot, Biniam Girmay, made history at the 2022 Giro d'Italia, becoming the first black African Grand Tour stage winner. At the Tour de France in 2023 however, the best Girmay could manage was 3rd. A win for either Mulubrhan or Girmay at the 2024 Tour would be a truly historic moment in the biggest race in the sport.

“It’s so amazing for me, my family and my country that I am in the World Tour,” Mulubrhan beams. “It’s not an easy sport and you sacrifice a lot for it, but when you get this opportunity, it changes your life."

“I want a long career with this team. I have my dreams: my first one in 2024 is to get good results and to win a stage in Europe. I also want to improve in the classics and do well in a Grand Tour. I will not sleep, now is the time to work even harder, and to believe even more. I want to create history,” he concludes.