On the roads of the Tour, Biniam Girmay does not go unnoticed: for his first participation, the Eritrean rider of the Intermarché-Circus-Wanty team is very supported. The flags of his country are out, especially during the alpine stages. The nationals of Eritrea did not hesitate to drive to come and see their idol, and hope to see him win a very first stage victory on the Grande Boucle. Why this Tuesday during the 16th stage between Passy and Combloux?
3 mins
” My name is Hana, I am with my Eritrean friends. Me, I traveled 3 hours to come here! We are all here for Biniam Girmay, for Bini, from the Intermarché team. He’s a king! An Eritrean king. »
Hana is a cleaning lady in Switzerland. She left Eritrea more than 10 years ago, and above all did not want to miss Biniam Girmay’s visit to the region. The 23-year-old Eritrean rider has become a star for his country’s nationals: winner of the Ghent-Wevelgem classic and a stage on the Tour of Italy last year, the sprinter did it again on the Tour de Suisse This year.
He now only lacks a victory in the Tour de France. Third in Bordeaux during the 7th stage, Biniam Girmay came very close to a first success on the Grande Boucle, he who discovers the event.
His supporters cross their fingers, like Awet Aregay. This 45-year-old journalist fled his country in 2008. He too found refuge in Switzerland, in Geneva. ” I left Eritrea because of politics, because of the dictatorship “, he explains. ” But I’m still a journalist! I work for Radio Erena. It’s a radio station in Paris that broadcasts in Tigrinya and Arabic. This is information on Eritrea, and I am their correspondent in Geneva. “Bini” is a star today in our country! It is very important to have a model that emerges. I think he will win a stage on this Tour! I hope so anyways. The bike is part of our identity. We were colonized by the Italians, who brought the bicycle to us more than 100 years ago. So since all this time, cycling has entered our culture. »
Winner in Italy, Switzerland… and France?
Among the youngest, the “cycling culture” is very present. John is 22 years old, he has taken up residence in Annemasse, in Haute-Savoie. He is training in commerce: “I arrived here in 2018”, he confides in excellent French. “I learned quickly (laughs). Of course, I ride a bike! I did a lot when I was little in Eritrea, and I continue here. But, it’s hard, it goes up a lot. How did I get here? Like everyone else, by the boats… It’s the first time I’ve come to see a stage of the Tour de France, I’m here to support Bini. It is the flag carrier of Eritrea! But not only… He is the face of all of Africa. I find that there are not enough Africans on the big tours in Europe. It gives us courage, it gives us hope for the future of cycling. But today (Passy / Combloux), it’s not for Bini. Like me, he’s a sprinter! The mountains are too hard. »
Hana, she does not agree: “this stage of July 18, I had checked it. It’s for him, you’ll see. » Answer this evening on arrival!
🇪🇷🇪🇷 Bini supporters are here!
Hana came from Switzerland and drove 3 hours to come to Annemasse. Awet (Geneva) or John are almost locals. All of them left Asmara a long time ago but gathered to see their idol: @GrmayeBiniam Of course @RFI pic.twitter.com/mYRHB7XwPT
— Martin Guez (@Martin_Guez) July 15, 2023