Biniam Girmay will be one of the many contenders for the medals in the road race of the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
With a large lead in the points classification and only one sprint stage left in this Tour de France, the green jersey triumph seems within reach for Girmay, an objective that was secondary at the start of the race in Florence. A stage win was the most important thing: “But once I won two, we really made that green jersey a concrete goal. I definitely want to complete it now,” says the Eritrean star.
The absolute big goal for this summer is not the Tour de France at all as together with his Intermarche-Wanty performance manager Aike Visbeek, Girmay created a plan to be at his best at the Olympic Games.
“The Olympic Games are the next big step,” Girmay said. “The plan I have made with Aike is to further improve my form in this Tour. That way I would be in my best condition at the start in Paris. But I’m already in top form in the Tour, haha. That is obviously a good thing.”
“I hope to finish this Tour safely in Nice. From there it’s not far to maintain my current form all the way to the Olympics. I am the only rider who will represent Eritrea. It will therefore be an extremely difficult race for me. But if I can continue what I am doing here in the Tour, then I will be in the same form during the Olympic Games.”
The 24-year-old rider will stay in Belgium between the end of the Tour and the Olympic Games. This way he can optimally prepare for the road race in Paris.
“I would never go there if I didn’t think I had a chance. I feel great at the moment. Why wouldn’t I go for a medal? That was already my plan that I made together with the team. I’m going for the podium.”
