"We have a tough road to reach WorldTour teams": Henok Mulubrhan and African cycling

Henok Mulubrhan’s career makes most sense when viewed from the fringes of world cycling. He didn’t start in Europe or grow up within a calendar full of opportunities. His starting point was Eritrea and, from there, every step was shaped by more than performance alone: the simple chance to be seen.

Early results at national level allowed him to leave the country and join the UCI World Cycling Centre in Switzerland. That change meant more than better training; it meant learning a completely different culture. “They teach you everything about professional life. It was very useful to learn what cycling is really like,” he told Domestique. For Mulubrhan, that education laid the groundwork to imagine himself one day in the WorldTour.

The experience came in a difficult context. The pandemic coincided with his move away from home and prolonged family absences. Even so, he never saw it as an insurmountable obstacle. “It was for the goal, for the future. My family understood the sacrifice. My father gives me motivation every second,” he said. That constant support was a reference point when the environment turned uncertain.

The next step looked decisive: the Qhubeka NTT development team. He was one step from the elite, but the project fell apart before it could solidify. The blow was heavy. “It’s disappointing when a team folds. You sign WorldTour and then you have to find another team,” he recalled. He had to start over, this time without guarantees.

Rebuilding came with Bike Aid, a German Continental team. There he turned need into momentum and results followed quickly. In 2022 he won the African road title, a crown he would claim three times. “It’s not easy to be a three-time African champion. I’m very happy about that; it’s history,” he said, aware of the symbolic and sporting value of the feat.

His performances opened the door to Green Project Bardiani CSF Faizanè and with it his first Grand Tour: the Giro d’Italia. It was a crash course in what the top level demands. “Grand Tours are 21 days full gas. You need power to do it,” he summed up. That experience strengthened an idea he had never abandoned. “My dream was always a WorldTour contract. I finally got it with Astana,” he said, thanking Alexandre Vinokourov, whom he cites as decisive in that step.

Mulubrhan insists that the issue for many African riders is not quality but context. The scarcity of UCI races on the continent severely restricts international exposure. “We have a hard path to reach WorldTour teams because there aren’t many races in Africa,” he explained. For him, the calendar is key. “It would be very good to have more 2.1 races or classics.” In practice, the Tour du Rwanda has become almost a compulsory test. “If you don’t have results in Rwanda, it’s hard to get a contract. Teams don’t usually look at local races,” he added. He recognises the work of existing structures but sums it up clearly: “They work hard for African riders, but we need races.”

Beyond his own calendar, Mulubrhan looks to Eritrea with optimism. He believes a generation is ready to step up if it finds the right stage. “We have many young riders with great talent. If they have opportunities to show themselves, they can go higher than now,” he said. The impact of Biniam Girmay has been crucial to that shift in mindset. “When someone from your country has done it, you believe you can too. It’s about sacrifice and training hard.”