Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay has committed his future to Intermarché-Wanty until 2028, after an outstanding Tour de France. Girmay made history as the first black rider to win a stage and the green points jersey. He will remain with Jean-François Bourlart’s Belgian squad for at least another four seasons, having joined from DELKO in 2021.
“It wasn’t just one historic stage win for Girmay but three,” said team boss Bourlart. Girmay clinched victories in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, and Turin on stage 3. His performances led Bourlart to call the contract extension a “no-brainer”.
Girmay’s Reflections
Girmay expressed his appreciation for the team’s support, noting, “Intermarché-Wanty is like a family to me. The results achieved during this Tour confirm that Intermarché-Wanty is the perfect team to achieve my goals. The team has supported and trusted me, even in the most difficult moments. Extending the adventure for two more years is simply an obvious choice.”
Girmay’s green jersey triumph was confirmed after the stage 21 time trial in Nice. Hundreds of Eritrean fans welcomed him along the Promenade des Anglais as he completed the race.
Looking Ahead
Girmay’s focus now turns to the Paris Olympics Road Race on August 3. He will compete solo but has a strong chance of securing a medal. “I am convinced that we can still achieve great things together, and I am already looking towards the next goals, starting with the Olympic Games! I am really glad to continue this story with my beloved team,” Girmay said.
Team’s Perspective
Performance Manager Aike Visbeek spoke about the team’s future goals, saying, “The results during the Tour prove that our approach is working. Our next goal is to win a Monument, and we will be doing everything we can to achieve this in the coming years.”
Bourlart echoed these sentiments, adding, “In 2021, we began a fantastic journey with Biniam Girmay. We’ve built on this over the past four years, culminating in this Tour de France. This also marks another step forward in the development of our team, which continues to grow year after year.”