Sprint winner Girly started career in Switzerland: “I felt lonely, almost went crazy”

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He is the first man from Eritrea to win a stage of the Tour de Suisse: Biniam Girmay. At the finish he is harassed, hugged and kissed by his countrymen. “Bini, Bini, Bini!” shout dozens.

No wonder: Girly has just completed a perfect sprint. The 23-year-old dries the entire European sprint elite. “Honestly? I didn’t think so. This win means a lot to me.”

Champagne bottle accident

Anyone who thinks that Girlmay’s victory is a sensation is wrong. He is one of only two Africans in the 160-strong Tour de Suisse field. But his class is undisputed. Last year he won the classic Gent-Wevelgem and a Giro stage, with which he wrote history.

Curious: Shortly after his victory in the Tour of Italy, he had to give up the race. The reason? The father of the family had so clumsily opened the champagne bottle on the pedestal that the cork popped in his left eye. The diagnosis: bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye.

He felt lonely

Girly is healthy again. The concussion he suffered in the spring has also recovered. One thing is certain: the stage to Villars-sur-Ollon will also be emotional, as the field will pass Aigle beforehand. He started his career in Vaud at the age of 18 – he was part of a UCI support program for young athletes from structurally weak countries. He tells Blick: “I wanted to give up after a week at the time. Everything was so structured, I missed family and friends. I felt lonely, almost went crazy.”

Girly fought on – it was worth it. In his homeland he is a folk hero. And he is especially excited about the prospect of the 2025 World Cup, which will be held in Africa for the first time. “The races take place in Rwanda, but are important for the whole continent. Hopefully that’s the start of something big.”

Source : Blick