Biniam Girmay became a national hero in Eritrea. He made history this year by being the first Black African rider to win a stage in the Tour de France. With this, he has brought history with the prestigious green jersey, which motivated a new generation of cyclists from his homeland. Among them is 17-year-old Keven Teklemariam who will follow in Girmay’s footsteps and will not only follow but exceed.
Already a mover and shaker in the world of cycling,
Teklemariam recently shone during the African Road Cycling Championships in Eldoret, Kenya, winning two of the gold medals out of Eritrea’s seven. Indeed, his results strongly bore the mark of Girmay’s emergence in 2018 after he won the African Championships in Rwanda.
Teklemariam is proudly part of the same cycling club,
Asbeco where Girmay started; his coach, Yonas Zekarias, who coaches Girmay, looks forward to much from young Teklemariam and more of his friends. Like Girmay years back, the current generation of cyclists from Eritrea show much promise in the mind of Zekarias.
Henok Mulubrhan, Astana-Qazaqstan rider and three-time African champion, shares the same view on this young rider considering he differs from any of his contemporaries. “I know these young riders really well,” said the rider. “Keven is really sure to keep an eye on.”
Cycling in Eritrea extends beyond sport,
Its foundation lies deep within the impact of more than half a century of Italian colonial influence. It started as a form of transport, then transformed into something of national pride and accomplishment in the sports sector. The country has managed to feature on the global map in cycling during the last ten years, thanks to some of the participants who have achieved records in their performances.
In 2015, Daniel Teklehaimanot became the first African to wear the polka dot jersey of the Tour de France. Girmay followed the footsteps of Daniel Teklehaimanot and more. Amongst his other achievements is the first African winner of a one-day classic and the first Black African winner of a Grand Tour stage, which he has added this year by winning the green jersey of the Tour de France.
Girmay’s success rings through Eritrea, from where he continues to train in the capital, Asmara. The country has established itself as a powerhouse in African cycling, dominating the recent championships in Kenya with a total of 16 podium finishes.
Targetting the Yellow Jersey
As the excitement builds in Eritrean cycling, no one knows whether Eritrea can be the first African country to have produced a yellow jersey winner at the Tour de France. Zekarias is optimistic that by having a proper development plan and giving adequate opportunities to junior riders, such dreams might soon become a reality in the next decade.
Teklemariam wishes to make his own signature in the world of the international circuit. “I am younger than Pogacar was when he won, but if you’re dedicated, nothing is impossible,” he said. His goal of winning is not confined within Africa alone because he desires to perform well within the continent of Europe, also to do well at the Giro and Tour de France.
After the surging wave of talented cyclists and the example of Girmay, it looks like Eritrea has more hopeful days ahead of her in cycling than ever before.
