'Biniam will be remembered forever' -Tsgabu Grmay on what Girmay's Tour de France success means to African cycling
'He brings that kind of belief, which is the biggest power we get'. Ethiopia's first Tour de France rider speaks to Global Peloton about Girmay's impact and his new coaching role
African cycling has come an awful long way in the last ten years. In 2014, no Black African rider had ever ridden the Tour de France. A decade later, Biniam Girmay has won the Green Jersey and three stages, a feat that could change the sport forever.
Ethiopian Tsgabu Grmay has been a major part of that pivotal ten years of cycling history. Grmay became first Ethiopian to ride the Tour de France in 2016 and spent eleven years racing as a professional before retiring from the road at this year’s Tour du Rwanda.
“If you asked me ten years ago that one guy can come and win a Tour de France stage, I would say ‘impossible’,” Grmay told Global Peloton reflecting on the Eritrean’s success in France.
Grmay and his generation of African pros were inspired by Daniel Teklehaimanot, the first black African rider to race in the WorldTour and do a Grand Tour - at the Vuelta a España in 2012. Then in 2015, Teklehaimanot and fellow Eritrean Merhawi Kudus became the first Black Africans to race the Tour de France. They paved the way for the talented crop of riders we now see coming through.
After Grmay himself competed in the Tour in 2016, he went home to Ethiopia to learn that he himself had inspired the next generation below him. It's a chain reaction that is multiplied by Biniam Girmay's success now. A perfect depiction of Billie Jean King’s famous quote: ‘you have to see it to be it’.
"When I was a kid I said I wanted to do the Tour de France. People were laughing at me because they were not really seeing [how it could be] possible because it was far, starting from the ground."
"In 2015 it happened, and from that, even the family, the friends, the riders, everyone can see it's possible because someone does it. That's the biggest change that we had in the last eight years, and now we see Biniam winning."
Grmay believes that Girmay’s success has lit a flame of belief in Africa. Millions of young people have seen what someone something bit like them has achieved and now they will think that they can do it too.
“He brings that kind of belief, which is the biggest power we get, and the biggest energy we get on the ground, for many kids. That's very exciting. That's what Africa has got now, the belief that they can do it because someone did it from there.”
“There are also more and more coming. More inspired and hungry riders on the ground, which you’ll see, it's coming.”
Grmay’s generation of Black Africans who made a way for the likes of Girmay all have something in common, something that Girmay himself does not share, which has surprised Grmay. The Eritrean star is a sprinter, whereas almost the entire cohort of Eritreans, Ethiopians and others before him have been pure climbers, carved from the mountains and steep hills of east Africa.
“I was always thinking when I think someone that can win a Tour de France stage, I picture in my mind a climber who can win from the breakaway or can win [on a] climb,” Grmay explains.
“I remember, three years ago, I was speaking with Biniam. I was talking about his future, what he had to do, I was just sharing my experience with him because we talk a lot. He told me he loves the Classics and he wants to win the Classics, and I said to him, ‘you're crazy, don't do it it's not good for you'. He said, ‘no, no, no, I love that shit’. So he's the one, I'm telling you, for me, it's mind blowing what he's doing, it's amazing.”
Who’s next?
Since retirement, Grmay has taken up a new role with the UCI World Cycling Centre as a coach. Under his charge are a group of young African riders who he hopes will be the next stars of the sport.
In July, Grmay had the opportunity to take eight young African riders to the Tour de France. On stage six, the riders were introduced on stage at the sign-on before the start, rode the final 31km of the stage and met with Girmay and South African team-mate Louis Meintjes. It was an effort by the ASO and UCI to give these riders exposure and to affirm their commitment to cycling in Africa.
“It was a very exciting moment for them and also for us to bring the young guys to the Tour and to have that opportunity to be just there watching the race, the last kilometres and being on the presentation and see the vibe and the feeling, the pressure of the riders, all this when they finish, the bus,” Grmay says.
“For the riders, it gives a lot of extra motivation on their career and on their job and what they want to do. It's really good, to tell you honestly. It was a really good plan that was planned by the UCI and also the organisation, the Tour. It was amazing, I think, the experience for them. They are all young guys, so it's good for them.”
Since then, Grmay has been with the ridera on a training camp in Bretagne. They have been taking part in local races, building valuable experience. Some are also racing the men’s Tour de 'l’Avenir this week and most of the riders will stay with the World Cycling Centre until September’s World Championships in Switzerland.
“We are waiting until the World Championships. So we do a lot of races, some UCI races and also a lot of criterium races we do around in Bretagne, that's where we stay now. And we are going to do also Tour de l'Avenir, which is one of the biggest goals for the riders and for us. It's a big one, you know. It's one of the biggest races we have.”
In his new coaching role, Grmay is grateful for Girmay’s example and inspiration. He also believes that more resources will be sent Africa’s way as a result of the Eritrean’s wins.
“As a coach, now he's helping me by winning this thing, because he's my biggest example to guide and motivate young guys. From now on, because he's the one that he makes the break, I don't use Pogačar, we have Bini now.”
“For sure he will bring more money, he will bring more investment, he will bring more people to invest in young guys.”
Girmay’s success was one of the biggest stories of this year’s Tour de France. Grmay believes that this is the key turning point, the moment that means Africa truly has a place among cycling’s elite.
The impact of Biniam Girmay cannot be understated. Challenges of course remain for Africans hoping to make it as professional cyclists, but Girmay has multiplied the momentum and made the path that little bit smoother.
“Biniam will be remembered forever. Even if someone [from Africa] comes and wins the Tour, Biniam will be there, his name stays forever.”
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