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'I came to this Tour to win' - Biniam Girmay motivated for Tour de France success

The history maker from the 2024 Tour, made a very promising start in Lille, and is positive about the opportunities to come.

Biniam Girmay - 2025 - Tour de France stage 1
Cor Vos

After being one of the stars of the 2024 Tour de France, winning three stages and the points classification - Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) arrived in Lille slightly under the radar after a modest and winless 2025 season. However, Girmay successfully navigated the windy and chaotic conditions well, sprinting to a 2nd place finish on the opening stage of the Tour behind Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). 

Post stage, there was initial disappointment from Girmay having come so close to yellow, but he was able to find the positives of a strong opening result, and looked ahead to the opportunities that are to come.

“When I crossed the finish line, I felt very disappointed because I was so close to victory and the yellow jersey. Nevertheless, I am happy that I gave it my all and completed this chaotic first stage without any problems,” Girmay said when speaking to reporters post-stage in Lille.

Girmay illustrated his high ambitions for this year's race, and with some hillier stages to come in the first week, Girmay may have the opportunity to thrive based on his early form indicator on stage 1 - and the Eritrean even anticipated his chances of success for Sunday on stage 2

“I came to this Tour to win; I worked hard to be at my best at the start. Today, I finished second, but there are still twenty stages to go, and I will do everything I can to be on the top step of the podium in the coming days," Girmay added. "I feel tired now, but there is another good chance for me tomorrow."

The overall mood in the Intermarché-Wanty camp was positive, as illustrated by sports director Aike Visbeek, who spoke to Wielerflits post stage, but the Dutchman insisted that there is more that can be done to help Girmay to success.

“I am certainly satisfied with the result, despite being so close to victory," Visbeek said. "But, as a team, we still have to take a step. It didn’t go completely well. There is still some homework to be done, but Bini is on the mark, and I think we did a good job. We can continue to build for the coming days.”

Visbeek echoed Girmay's thoughts about the advantage that the Eritrean should have over the pure sprinters in some of the hillier stages in the opening week, and the importance of consistency after making a good start to the defence of his green jersey.

“But okay, the upcoming stages will be tough days, and that is to Bini’s advantage”, Visbeek said. “We also did a good job in the battle for the green jersey. This was the start we needed to immediately compete for green. We now have to make sure that we keep on collecting and always finish in the top 5 or top 3.”

Visbeek also drew similar comparisons to Girmay's preparations from twelve months ago, and how the lack of wins beforehand didn't stop the Eritrean from having a history-making Tour and that this opening stage is a step in the right direction with more positives to come.

“It is the same scenario as last year. Biniam rode a lot of races in May, to prepare himself in Eritrea afterwards. Then you are always curious how he is doing," Visbeek said. “This is also a huge boost. That he immediately feels good and races strongly. Then he no longer has any doubts about that. It was a good day for his motivation and self-confidence. He will only continue to grow from now on,” 

Stage 2 of the Tour de France is the longest of the entire race - 212 kilometres from Lauwin-Planque to Boulogne-sur-Mer and should suit the puncheurs and versatile sprinters such as Girmay. He now sits 2nd in the general and points classifications, and leads the youth standings. Depending on how the stage is raced, we could even see the likes of Tadej Pogačar and Jonas Vingegaard come to the fore. You can read our stage 2 preview to find out more, with the neutralised start beginning at 12:15 (CET)

Tour de France 2025 Stage 1: Results and standings

Pogacar van der Poel - 2025 - Tour de France

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