Biniam Girmay, the black pearl of sprints: "I want to cross the mountain and be like Sagan"

"The bicycle is something cultural in Eritrea and we owe that passion to the Italians. In my country, the Italian colonial heritage is very palpable through cycling. Everyone sits there to enjoy the Tour de France, the Giro or the Milan - San Remo".

The measured tone of

, the first black medalist in a World Cup, only breaks when he speaks of his homeland and the century-old

, where he one day intends to impose his power on the slopes of the Cipressa and the Poggio.

At the moment, last week's victory in the Alcudia Trophy of the Challenge de Mallorca consolidates Birmay as one of the most flourishing promises of the UCI WorldTour.

From the Alicante concentration of the Intermarché Wanty, the team that has extended a contract until 2024, Girmay attends EL MUNDO.

His speech mixes the freshness of the recently landed in the elite with the residue of someone who, at just 17 years old, left everything behind in search of a future at the UCI's Center Mondial du Cyclisme (CMC).

Family and friends stayed behind in oppressive Asmara, while Biniam settled on the cool grasslands of Aigle.

"The beginnings in Switzerland were very hard. It wasn't just a change in the weather or the landscape, but I felt very small," recalls Biniam.

"We came from very different places, like Colombia, Argentina or other African countries, but we ended up forming a good team, so I am very grateful to the UCI," he recalls.

His first knock as a junior, among the forests of the Ardennes, came after beating

.

Hinault's praise

In January 2019, when he came of age, Biniam became the first runner born in the 21st century with a victory against professionals.

, star guest of that Tropicale Amissa Bongo played in Gabon, presented him with the trophy and did not spare any praise before the journalists.

"He has run with an intelligence that should be an example for many and has shown that the future of cycling also passes through Africa," said the five-time Tour champion, still amazed by his power against specialists such as

or

.

The first professional contract with Delko-Marseille, at the beginning of 2020, put Biniam under the orders of Biscayan

.

From there, he jumped to the Intermarché Wanty, where it would not even take a month to win the Grand Besançon Doubs Classic.

Although the day that changed his life came on September 24.

In the under-23 road race, Biniam surprised with an overwhelming comeback to win the World Cup silver in Leuven.

Glory for a day for Eritrea, one of the most atrocious dictatorships in Africa.

Between the scars of the war with Ethiopia and the persecution of dissidents, the bicycle seems to be the only backbone against misery.

"Everyone, to go to school or work, uses one. Unlike other neighboring countries, kids start at a fairly early age, like 10 or 12 years old. I also had one of those

blue

Until my father made the great financial effort to buy me a road model. It was a Trek and he paid 4,000 euros for it," he recalls after his last training session in Alfàs del Pi.

“There isn't too much traffic here and the weather helps a lot. The environment is great to work in,” he says.

Girmay, during the preseason in Alicante. INTERMARCHÉ WANTY

Starting next Saturday, Biniam will share leadership with

in the Vuelta a Murcia, where any point seems important for his team in the fight to avoid relegation in the WorldTour.

At stake, the licenses for the next three seasons.

And in that struggle, Movistar should not feel safe either.

"I feel ready to help the team and we have to grow together. I think the time has come to focus on this type of spring classics, to the detriment of other smaller events on the continental circuit", reveals Girmay, who since he was a child had a predilection for the Milan-San Remo.

"Of course I'm passionate about it, no matter how much some say it bores them. I don't know when I'll be able to play it, but I'm going to continue working hard and fighting for my dreams," he says with the same enthusiasm with which he sat in front of the television to enjoy the victories of

or

in the Tour.

I have never felt closely anything that had to do with racism

The seduction of the

undoubtedly conditioned Biniam's early vocation, which he claims to remember every yellow, green or red polka dot jersey from the second decade of the century.

Not to mention the feat signed in 2015 by his compatriot

, the first African to climb on the podium of the Tour as leader of the mountain.

"It was a great motivation for me. At that time, at home they told me that they wanted to see me like Daniel, in a grand tour. His example ended up being one of the keys in my attempt to enter professionalism," he maintains, convinced of the progression of black runners, so many decades away from the spotlight.

The example of the pioneers

However, Girmay prefers to stay away from any claim or complaint.

"I have never felt closely anything that had to do with racism," he guarantees.

In fact, he has not even heard of the accusations of

, who pointed out

and

for racist insults in 2014 and 2017. The French cyclist was the only black in the 2020 Tour, while in the last edition only South African

participated .

In 2011, Guadeloupean

was the first to reach the finish line on the Champs Elysées, although no black cyclist ever dared to compete with the best

.

In the country ruled with an iron fist by

's historic bronze

in the 10,000 meters at the Athens Games.

But Biniam doesn't seem to take the hint.

"Now, almost everything is new for me, so I try to enjoy every race and every training session. At the moment I don't feel any pressure to be the black star of cycling," he stresses firmly.

"I don't work just to become a sprinter either, because I want to go over the mountain. I would like to look like

one day ," he concludes.

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