Girmay confirms World Championship participation despite challenging Rwanda course
Eritrean cycling star Biniam Girmay has confirmed he will compete in the 2025 UCI World Championships in Rwanda despite concerns about the climbing-heavy course that doesn't suit his strengths.
"For me, the World Championship is really the only chance to wear the Eritrean jersey," Girmay said to Wielerflits. "While there is also the African Championship, there is a lot of uncertainty each year about that, making it difficult to plan. Therefore, the World Championship is my only opportunity. It's always special to ride for my country."
The Tour de France green jersey winner decided to participate after discussions with Eritrea's cycling federation, which requested his presence to support the national team.
"I've recently had discussions with the national federation, and they need my presence at the championship to support the Eritrean team. That's why I decided to race," he explained.
The challenging 268km course around Kigali, Rwanda, features significant climbing sections that favour pure climbers rather than Girmay's sprinting abilities. Despite this, the Eritrean acknowledges the historic significance of cycling's premier event being held in Africa for the first time.
"It's the first time the World Championships are being held in Africa, and I believe we should give African cyclists a chance," Girmay said. "However, I have my doubts that they will perform at their best there."
When discussing his personal ambitions for the race, Girmay showed his characteristic humour: "It would be nice if I could get into a breakaway. It's been a while since I've been in an early break, haha! I hope to create some visibility during my time there, but it will also be challenging on this course."
The Eritrean star, who made headlines last year with multiple Tour de France stage victories and the points classification win, maintains a busy schedule leading up to the World Championships. He will compete in the Grand Prix Cycliste de Québec on September 12, followed by the Grand Prix Cycliste de Montréal two days later, and the SUPER 8 Classic on September 20 before heading to Kigali for the World Championship on September 28.
