Biniam Girmay is the first black African rider to win a stage in a grand tour and starting on Saturday, the Eritrean will be looking to prevail again at the biggest cycling event of all, the Tour de France.
The 24-year-old won in a bunch sprint at the 2022 Giro d'Italia and quickly turned his sights to becoming the first black African to win on the Tour but on his first attempt last year he found the level was higher than at any other race.
Last year I was nervous before the start. It's the biggest race in the world and to be part of that made me nervous and I panicked from the start to the end of the Tour, Girmay told Reuters on Friday before his second Tour.
It's a different race, you need to prepare well mentally and I think this year will be different.
