"Hundreds of fans running after you with big flags... that scared me" - Dylan Groenewegen on the unique atmosphere created by Biniam Girmay's fans at post-Tour crits

The busy period for Biniam Girmay is slowly coming to an end with Sunday's Olympic road race. Before that, the Eritrean from Intermarché - Wanty first rode the Tour de France for three weeks, where he won three stages and the green jersey, and then rode many post-Tour criteriums where many Eritrean fans came to cheer on their national hero.

That was also the case in Roosendaal. The riders who wanted to do a lap of honour after the finish were out of luck. That was no longer possible: the course was already full of people dressed in green, red and blue (the colours of the Eritrean flag). After the podium ceremony, Girmay would go to the changing rooms in the stadium of football club RBC Roosendaal.

Read also

"Strictly speaking it costs us a bonus" - Patrick Lefevere claims Remco Evenepoel's Olympic title win doesn't mean much for Soudal - Quick-Step

In the dressing room, which is normally intended for refereeing, Dylan Groenewegen and Girmay entered the room relieved. "This was scary, man," Groenewegen still panted, who then told his story to a number of other riders. "Hundreds of fans running after you with big flags... that scared me. And then the gates were closed," said the Dutchman, who also found the situation he found himself in quite special.

"So we quickly lift the bikes over the fence and quickly continue riding," he continued his story. "I think they are all standing outside here." Girmay himself came out of the toilet after the exciting story of the number two of the day, as if it did not bother him that much. "This was scary, he?", Groenwegen asked him. "Yeah, yeah, always huh," was the reaction of the man who was the center of attention.

If there is anything that looks like Biniam Girmay, his fans jump on it. In Chaam, teammate Huub Artz also rode. The young rider was attacked after the finish by Bini fans, who mistook Artz for the real Girmay from afar. To their great disappointment, the fans saw that it was not their great idol, after which they looked further. That was also the case in Roosendaal.

Read also

"He wants a legacy in the sport that he loves" - Tom Pidcock's coach insists the Brit's second Olympic gold isn't mountain bike swansong

"We'll definitely be in the running” - Team GB optimistic Tom Pidcock can double up at 2024 Paris Olympic Games in men's road race

Intermarché-Wanty

@IntermarcheW

·Follow

💚 BINI ENERGY 🇪🇷💚 Tour de France celebrations during criterium in the Netherlands on 29 July 😍

Watch on Twitter

1.1K

Reply

Copy link

Read 15 replies