‘If it’s hard for a European rider, it’s harder for us’ - Eritrea's Biniam Girmay, knocking down walls in cycling

There has perhaps never been an African cyclist more likely to succeed than Biniam Girmay, introduced on The Cycling Show as “the boy from Asmara, the hope for an entire continent”. After clocking up some eye-catching results for ProContinental outfit, Delko, the 21-year-old signed for Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux in September last year. Just weeks later, in the under-23 World Championship road race, Girmay was making history.

A brilliant sprint for second place saw him become the first black African to stand on the podium at a World Championships. Ad/> “It was a big moment for me,” he says, “for my continent, for Eritrea and especially for black cycling, to show our potential to the world.” /> Cycling'A dream come true' — Girmay reflects on historic podium at World Championships15 HOURS AGO «Show» is correct, because it's not like it's not always been there. And as proud as Girmay is to be the one to have broken through this particular barrier, it is not lost on him that it should have been knocked down a long time ago.

“In a lot of races I’m the only black rider in the peloton. If it’s hard for a European rider, it’s harder for us.” Which is why we worded the opening sentence of this article in the very particular way that we did. For the idea that sport is completely meritocratic, that talent and a strong work ethic are all you need to have a glittering career, is one surely now held onto only by a few.

While Girmay is certainly a top tier talent, one prepared to push himself as hard as anyone around, so have other riders from the oldest continent. The difference is, unlike Girmay, they may not have been given the same opportunities. It is only his presence at the table that is rare.