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Biniam Girmay discussion thread

I can tell because he was like the first guy on my list and then I took him out of my team thinking he was pretty expensive after all - and then he goes and wins his first race of the season right away. Now watch him win a lot more...

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Born in Asmara, Eritrea, on 2 April 2000, he started his career at the World Cycling Center, went to Delko for a season, and is now under contract at Intermaché until 2024. He's a triple junior African champion (road race, time trial, team time trial) and the 2021 U23 World Championship silver medalist and African Cyclist of the year 2021.

Fun fact: He's the first cyclist born in the 2000s who won a professional race (according to Wikipedia).

He says his whole family is quite into cycling: https://www.directvelo.com/actualite/68033/biniam-hailu-le-velo-en-famille

Good luck Biniam, but maybe you can wait a year longer for the big wins...
 
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Someone was explaining Eritrean names on Twitter yesterday. The Ghirmay / Girmay confusion just stems from transliteration from another alphabet. Both are equally right/wrong. But the interesting part was that apparently there are no surnames in Eritrea. Instead at least for men, the naming scheme is your name - your dad’s name - your grandad’s name. So Ghirmay alone refers to his father.

I can’t vouch for the reliability of this, but it seemed credible
 
Someone was explaining Eritrean names on Twitter yesterday. The Ghirmay / Girmay confusion just stems from transliteration from another alphabet. Both are equally right/wrong. But the interesting part was that apparently there are no surnames in Eritrea. Instead at least for men, the naming scheme is your name - your dad’s name - your grandad’s name. So Ghirmay alone refers to his father.

I can’t vouch for the reliability of this, but it seemed credible
I've worked with Eritrean asylum seekers for many years and I can confirm it.
This naming convention is actually common in many countries (Somalia, Ethiopia, a number of Arab speaking countries, etc).
 
I think Girmay soon will be able to win also WT races. He and the people around him seem to do a lot of things right.

Some time ago, Rafaa Chtioui seemed to be the next big rider from Africa, but sadly never really achieved these really big results. Girmay, however, seems to develop to a really successful rider. I hope he stays healthy and is able to win nice races. It‘s great to watch such a strong guy from northern Africa…
 
I think Girmay soon will be able to win also WT races. He and the people around him seem to do a lot of things right.

Some time ago, Rafaa Chtioui seemed to be the next big rider from Africa, but sadly never really achieved these really big results. Girmay, however, seems to develop to a really successful rider. I hope he stays healthy and is able to win nice races. It‘s great to watch such a strong guy from northern Africa…
Merhawi Kudus as well - looked like he'd become a world class climber at one point - but he is a very solid mountain domestique
 
I don't, have him on my team for the Emerging Riders game.
Maybe I'll get him on my team for a GT, though. It's all down the Random Generator! (And whether IWG selects him for a GT, but I'd be surprised if not.)
No you haven't. He was last eligible in the 2020-22 edition, which you didn't enter, where he was picked by 6 teams and is currently the second highest scorer (behind Honore)
 
I think Girmay soon will be able to win also WT races. He and the people around him seem to do a lot of things right.

Some time ago, Rafaa Chtioui seemed to be the next big rider from Africa, but sadly never really achieved these really big results. Girmay, however, seems to develop to a really successful rider. I hope he stays healthy and is able to win nice races. It‘s great to watch such a strong guy from northern Africa…
For me it was a surprise that Abderrahim Zahiri never turned pro. 15th in the Baby Giro, 5th in Toscana Terra di Ciclismo and the year after top 20 on the gc in both the Giro della Valle d'Aosta and the Adriatica-Ionica race.
Also, what they hell happened to Awet Habtom? The guy looked like a big talent, but dissapeared after riding 1 year for Kometa.
 
Cycling is the no.1 sport in Eritrea. Daniel Teklehaimanot became a national hero and supposely could retire after he wore the polka dot jersey at the TdF. Lets see if he will be able to handle all the love (and money) from his country men once wins some prestigous races. He could be set for life at least, if he isnt already.
 
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Cycling is the no.1 sport in Eritrea. Daniel Teklehaimanot became a national hero and supposely could retire after he wore the polka dot jersey at the TdF. Lets see if he will be able to handle all the love (and money) from his country men once wins some prestigous races. He could be set for life at least, if he isnt already.
There's really that much money in cycling in Eritrea? I had no idea, but I guess it's not uncommon that a lot of money are spent on sports in dictatorships.
 
There's really that much money in cycling in Eritrea? I had no idea, but I guess it's not uncommon that a lot of money are spent on sports in dictatorships.

Well I don't really know much about it.

I know a few people from Eritrea and when I told them I'm cycling but in Germany generally football is the only sport that matters they told me thats the same for cycling over there.

The thing about Teklehaimanot I picked up on a broadcast. Rolf Alda, who I believe was his team manager back then said that he never really came back strong after his success at the TdF is to large parts that after all benefits he recieved in Eritrea he simply didn't need to anymore. The build him a mansion, all doors opened for him...

But I mean a worshipped sportshero can get by just showing his face in public every now and then pretty much anywhere.
 
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What a great start to his career! At one point, I thought he would be able to match Wout on the Paterberg but there was still a little something missing.

And also, I tend to have a few problems telling many of the Intermarché riders apart, but for some reason I find him a bit more identifiable!
 
Wow, what a ride today. Not only did he finish 5th, he was the one closest to be able to follow Van Aert and Laporte. And on top of that he was very active and took his pulls as well. Very impressive! I didn't think he would do well in a position game like this.
That has always been the most impressive thing about him even at a young age, his positioning in hectic hilly races is and has always been really good.
 

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