Biniam Girmay he said he will be ready for a season as a protagonist, which he knows he is no longer just any rider and that for this reason he will also be more marked. Which makes perfect sense. And also Valerio Piva, his sporting director at Intermarche Wanty Gobert, he's on the same wavelength.
The Eritrean's season began a few days ago in the Majorcan races, and he started with a solid third place. A sign that “Bini” had a good winter and didn’t rest on his laurels.
Biniam leader
«Certainly – explains Piva with his usual clarity – Girmay will be more closely monitored after a 2022 season like that. He won't be racing like this anymore... just to gain experience or as a relative unknown., a place that was not unknown. Between Ghent and Giro he showed great thingsAt the start of the next races he won't be one of the many.
"On the contrary, It will be up to us as a team to support him, perhaps take the chestnuts out of the fire for him, pull to mend the escape. And this will be an additional responsibility for him… and for us."
The issue of responsibilities is not trivial. However, we are talking about a young rider, who comes from a country that doesn't have much of a cycling culture. Perhaps Biniam didn't even see certain dynamics on TV, or they were passed down to him. But even in this case, Piva immediately clarifies.
«I don't think Biniam has any difficulty taking responsibility. I saw it firsthand last year at the Giro, where he was leading the team. He wasn't afraid of his opponents, not even when, again at the Giro, he had to face Van der Poel.
Girmay knows what he wants and how much it will cost him. But he also knows he has a team built around him. Biniam is our leader, at least for certain races."
African winter
Piva says that Girmay had a good winter and that he was very serious. He took advantage of the 2.000-plus meters of Asmara, the Eritrean capital where he lives, and the good climate there.
«He was missing in the December retreat – continues Piva – but we agreed precisely so that he could make the most of the conditions of his home.
«Then you also have to consider that he's there with his family and once the season resumes, he won't return home for many months. But already in the January training camp he was in excellent condition and he demonstrated it with third place in Alcudia. Among other things, a third place marred by a technical error: the finish was positioned 150 meters different from what was indicated in the road book."
What matters, however, is that Girmay has shown that he is doing well, especially with big goals in mind.
«Biniam – continues Piva – He said he wanted to do well in the Northern Classics, but he has added a new goal: the African Championship. And he's keen. So in mid-February he'll return to Africa. From there, there will be the Italian races, then the Belgian ones, and perhaps the Amstel. Then it'll be the Tour's turn.
«Even though Girmay would have liked it very much Giro d'Italia. He wanted to conclude what he had done last year to understand where he could get to (he withdrew because of the cork of the champagne in his eye). on the day of success in Jesi, ed.) and attack the cyclamen jersey. But of course also for marketing reasons, given that Intermarché is French, the Tour is very important for us. But I don't rule out the possibility of returning to Italy in the next few years."
Dreaming of Roubaix
Apparently, Girmay is in love with Roubaix. He's never run it, but he's seen it on TV. Taking part is a dream for him. A race like this requires experience and excellent equipment.
«From the point of view of materials – says Piva – I'm quite calm: last year we brought five athletes in the top twenty to the finish line of the Roubaix. And Girmay himself, in his first appearance on cobblestones and walls, in Harelbeke, finished fifth. So he likes the cobblestones. Mentally and physically, he seems ready. Then we will also do the classic pre-race inspections.
«Is it a little light for the Roubaix? Well, It's not exactly light. And if last year he played the races with Van der Poel, maybe it's also suitable for Roubaix."
