Biniam Girmay Hailu (Asmara, 2 April 2000) – first African winner of a cycling classic

Biniam Girmay started cycling on the advice of by his father and soon proved to be talented. He won race after race in his home country of Eritrea. It earned him an invitation from the UCI to train at its international training centre.

In 2019, Biniam Girmay won the third stage of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo and the fifth stage of the Tour of Rwanda. In 2020, he won both the third and sixth stages of La Tropicale Amissa Bongo.

At the world championships, he took silver in the road race for promises.
He thus became the first black African cyclist to take a medal at the world championships. Upon his return home to Eritrea, he received a hero’s welcome.

In spring 2022, Biniam Girmay won the Trofeo Alcúdia and finished seventh in
La Drôme Classic. In the classics, he finished 10th in Milan-Turin, 12th in Milan-San Remo and fifth in the E3 Saxo Bank Classic.
He won Ghent-Wevelgem on his first participation in a sprint of four and so he became the first African winner of a cycling classic.
At the 2022 Tour of Italy, Biniam Girmay became the first ever black stage winner

Victories

2018
African championship team time trial, juniors
African championship time trial, juniors
African championship road race, juniors
1st stage Aubel-Thimister-Stavelot, juniors

2019
3rd stage La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
5th stage Tour of Rwanda

2020
3rd and 6th stage La Tropicale Amissa Bongo
Points classification La Tropicale Amissa Bongo

2021
Classic Grand Besançon Doubs

2022
Trofeo Alcúdia-Port d’Alcúdia
Ghent-Wevelgem
10th stage Tour of Italy
Eritrean time trial championship