Currently competing in the Tour Down Under and showing promising performance in the early stages of 2024, Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) is already turning his focus to the Spring Classics.
Former winner of Gent-Wevelgem, Girmay was asked by the Dutch website In de Leiderstrui, about his objectives for this year’s European spring and about the absence of Tadej Pogacar in some of the races, such as the E3 Saxo Classic and the Tour of Flanders.
Since he started, everything has changed
“You can ask this question to the whole peloton… Since he started competing, everything has changed,” says Girmay with a smile, when asked if Pogacar’s absence would make victory more likely for the Eritrean.
“I also like difficult races and Pogacar brings a lot of emotion to a race, even among the fans. He’s an incredibly friendly guy and it’s a shame he won’t be there in the spring, but the whole peloton will be happy he’s not participating, hahaha.”
Girmay moves crowds of fans
Wherever Girmay goes, he brings with him a legion of Eritrean support. “I love these fans. Without fans it’s nothing. They give me a lot of strength,” he says gratefully, although he realizes the extra pressures that this support brings.
“If I finish second now, they won’t be happy. That’s great, but it also brings pressure. It comes from all sides. In Eritrea, they literally say I have to win every day. Even when there is a mountain stage on the agenda they always want me to win.”
