World-class sprinter Biniam Girmay is considered a model for many African young athletes. But is cycling in Africa really progress? There are doubts.
It was the moment that Milkia’s Maekele had been dreaming of for a long time: In the afternoon of February 14, 2025, the 19-year-old cyclist was finally allowed to tear his arms up for the first time when he ran over the finish line of an important bike race. The young Eritrean won the victory on the 6th stage of the Algerian tour after he had sprinted in second or three five times on the days before.
“Milkias is certainly one of the largest cycling talents in Africa”says Matthias Schnapka. The manager of the Bikeaid team, which this season belongs to two other cyclists from Africa next to Maekele, knows the African cycling scene very well. Bikeaid has been contesting many cycling races in Africa for years and regularly enables a handful of African talent racing start outside of their own continent.
Lots of talent, little driving technique
“There are many talents in Arika who have a lot of physically. However, because they have little opportunity to start with top -class competition in an impressive race, almost everyone lacks racing experience. So most – compared to European drivers – have catastrophic driving technology”says Schnapka.
However – the team manager finds it very slowly uphill in Africa. “After all, it is no longer unusual today to experience a black cyclist at a big event.” Merhawi Kudus also felt this change in the value. Kudus was there in the first big hour of African cycling. In 2015, together with his compatriot Daniel Teklehaimanot, he was the first black athlete from Africa at the Tour de France. Teklehaimanot even wore the tour of the tour for a few days.
Biniam Girmay – Boom in Eritrea
Kudus comes from Eritrea like Teklehaimanot. Where cycling also has great importance because of the connection to the former colonial power of Italy. And where Biniam Girmay recently caused a real cycling boom.
The world-class sprinter, who won three stages at the Tour de France in 2024 and had the green jersey of the point best, was considered a great role model for many young people from the small East African country. Find a way out of economic hardship via cycling – this motif has been driving numerous of its young compatriots in Europe since Girmays.
“Infrastructure is still very bad”
“Maekele could become the next from Eritrea, who makes it up”Matthias Schnapka believes. However, the 44-year-old does not yet think the time has come for a cycling boom in Africa. “The infrastructure in Africa is far too bad for that. And the visual moods of the federal states make most of the young athletes impossible to drive outside of their own country.”
On the way at the Tour of Tigray in Ethiopia
The cycling World Cup will take place in Rwanda in September. A glimmer of hope. This event takes place on African soil for the first time. However, Schnapka believes that Rwanda is no longer the cycling area of the continent than it was for a while. What does not only depend on political problems – Rwanda is accused of supporting a rebel group militarily in the neighboring Congo.
Rwanda – The former flagship is crumbling
The cycling infrastructure, which was once under construction, has also collapsed, so to speak. What has to do with the withdrawal of Jock Boyer and his people. The American Boyer, former cycling professional and once the first American Tour-de-France participant, moved to Rwanda in 2007 and built a first-class cycling center in the north of the country with the help of potent American sponsors.
Numerous young cyclists received a good training, the Rwandian national team, which resulted from it, first celebrated success, Rwanda seemed to be able to become the African cycling flag country. However, – if the focus was on eternal conflicts with authorities and frequent corruption incidents within the cycling association, Boyer shifted his focus after ten years, he left Rwanda.
A Training center, that is no longer used
Instead, he founded a non -profit organization with “Africa Rising” that has since supported various African countries and emerging talents in their cycling development. What remains in Rwanda is a former training center that is hardly used today. And young athletes who are largely left to themselves.
Salim Kipkemboi, cyclist from Kenya (left)
“I have no great hope of Rwanda”says Matthias Schnapka today. For him, Eritrea is currently the most exciting nation. For BIKEAID, three Eritreig talents are driving this season – with 21 drivers from 10 African countries since 2014, the team knows which hurdles are connected.
Agreements on cell phone are not possible
“For us, an African driver means considerably more effort”explains Schnapka. “Flights, visas, accommodation, communication – this is a logistical and financial challenge. There is no mobile internet in Eritrea. Simple agreements on the cell phone? Foreign.
Nevertheless, he and his colleagues do not want to stop giving at least one handful of talents a chance year after year. “We put so much energy on cycling. We would like to give at least a few young people from Africa the chance to build a bridge into a better future through cycling.” Milkias Maekele could be the next one who uses this chance.