Intermarché seeks budget boost to re-sign Girmay after Tour de France success

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Intermarché’s Biniam Girmay is now in a race against time to defend his green jersey after a crash in Nîmes resulted in scrapes on his right knee and stitches in his elbow. The Eritrean rider, who has been a standout in this year’s Tour de France, must now work harder to safeguard his 32-point lead in the points classification.

Despite these setbacks, Girmay’s performances have garnered significant attention, not least from EF Education-EasyPost. The American team had previously shown interest in 2021, only for Intermarché to secure Girmay’s signature at that time. Now, with his current contract running until the end of 2026, discussions are underway to extend it to 2028 with improved financial terms.

Girmay, 24, has expressed his contentment with the Walloon WorldTour team but is seeking more investment in his sprint train. “We need additional and higher-quality support riders,” said Girmay, underscoring the need for enhancements to his team.

The financial burden of these improvements is significant. Intermarché, already operating with the smallest budget on the WorldTour, is feeling the strain. The departure of Circus as a primary sponsor due to new gambling advertising restrictions has compounded their financial woes. While Circus remains a secondary sponsor, the team has also seen a reduction in expected funding from the Walloon government. Initially promised €500,000 over three years, the support has been cut to a third of that amount by Elio Di Rupo’s administration.

The cost of Girmay’s success, including the bonuses linked to his Tour stage wins, has necessitated a creative approach to budgeting. This explains the team’s limited activity in the transfer market. Rumours suggest that a new major sponsor may be on the horizon, but team management has yet to confirm this. “We will have more news soon,” said team manager Jean-François Bourlart, recognising the urgency of securing additional funds to retain their star rider.

With Girmay’s future and the team’s financial stability hanging in the balance, the coming days will be crucial for Intermarché as they navigate these challenges.

Main photo credit: Getty