Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Biniam Girmay

How Biniam Girmay built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.

Biniam Girmay is an Eritrean professional road cyclist riding for Intermarché–Wanty. He achieved a historic milestone at the 2024 Tour de France by becoming the first African to win the Green Jersey. In the same Tour, he became the first black African rider to win a stage, claiming victory in stages 3, 8 and 12, marking a significant breakthrough for African cycling.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2018: Triple Junior Champion of Africa

In 2018, Biniam moved to Switzerland to join the WCC for his second junior year. That year, he became a triple junior cycling champion of Africa, winning the road race, time trial, and team time trial. He also won the first stage of Aubel–Thimister–Stavelot.

2019: First Professional Victory

In 2019, Biniam, riding with the Eritrea national team, secured his first professional victory by winning the third stage of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo in a sprint. This achievement marked him as the first cyclist born in the 2000s to win a professional race. He also won stage 5 of the Tour du Rwanda.

2020: Joins Nippo–Delko–One Provence

In 2020, Biniam joined UCI ProTeam Nippo–Delko–One Provence. He finished second in the Trofeo Laigueglia and the Tour du Doubs.

August 2021: Signs with Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux

On August 6, 2021, Intermarché–Wanty–Gobert Matériaux announced the signing of Biniam Girmay. He debuted for his new team days later at the Tour de Pologne.

September 2021: Second place in UCI Road World Championships

On September 24, 2021, Biniam finished second in the under-23 road race at the UCI Road World Championships, becoming the first black African rider to achieve a podium finish in the history of the UCI Road World Championships.

March 2022: First African Winner of a Classic Cycle Race

On March 27, 2022, Biniam won Gent–Wevelgem, becoming the first African winner of a classic cycle race.

2022: First Black African to win Giro d'Italia stage

In 2022, Biniam became the first black African cyclist to win a Grand Tour stage at the Giro d'Italia after winning stage 10 in a reduced bunch sprint.

2023: First Tour de France

In 2023, Biniam had his first win of the year on stage 1 of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana. After a lack of results in the spring, he won the second stage of the Tour de Suisse and entered his first Tour de France as the team leader for Intermarché–Circus–Wanty, placing third in a sprint finish on stage 7.

2024: Victories and Injury at Giro d'Italia

In 2024, Biniam started his season at the Tour Down Under, finishing second in the points classification. He won the Surf Coast Classic and was the team leader for Intermarché–Wanty for the Giro d'Italia. He abandoned the race due to a hip injury but later won the Circuit Franco-Belge.

2024: Wins multiple stages at Tour de France and extends contract

In 2024, Biniam won the third stage at the Tour de France, becoming the first black African to win a stage at the Tour. He took the lead in points classification, marking the first time an African rider wore the green jersey. He also won stage 8 and stage 12. After the Tour de France, he and Intermarche-Wanty announced a new contract until 2028.

2024: Wins Green Jersey at 2024 Tour de France

In 2024, at the Tour de France, Biniam Girmay won the Green Jersey, becoming the first African to win any jersey at the Tour. He also made history by becoming the first black African rider to win a Tour de France stage winning stages 3, 8 and 12.

2028: Contract Extension with Intermarche-Wanty

In 2024, Biniam signed a contract extension with Intermarche-Wanty until the end of 2028, while preparing himself for the Men's road race at the Olympics.