Giro's first ever Ethiopian rider 'in at the deep end'
Tsgabu Grmay became Ethopia's first ever Grand Tour rider after setting off with Lampre-Merida at the 2015 Giro d'Italia
Tsgabu Grmay’s road to become the first Ethiopian in the Giro d'Italia was not easy. Dirt roads, sharing a room with four sisters and breaking the African/European barrier might have been harder than riding the first three stages of this year's Giro d'Italia.
Grmay made had his break riding with the UCI centre in Switzerland. It was his launch pad for spots in Pro Continental team MTN-Qhubeka and now WorldTour team Lampre-Merida.
"Ethiopia's eyes are on me," Grmay told Cycling Weekly.
"They've showed racing live in Ethiopia for years via Al Jazeera and other free-to-air television channels, but this is the first time my family and Ethiopia have a cyclist that they can cheer for."
Grmay grew up near Mek'ele, a city that sits at 2400 metres. His family, he said, is a "sporting family" with cyclists, his dad and his brother rode bikes and gave Grmay his first bike.
"We had local races. My dad and brother rode those, but never made it this far, though," Grmay added.
"We explored the countryside on bikes. I rode to the edge of every paved rode that my area has. Training now is limited when I go back, I can ride up to three hours on a loop that I have, but to do more, I need to repeat it."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Lampre sends Grmay back to Ethiopia as much as possible from the Milan or Rome airport so that he feels at home and because it sits on a plain at altitude. He may be short of paved roads, but is able to ride up to 2800 or 3000 metres.
“My fist time in Europe in 2011, everything was hard,” Grmay said.
“Everything, the weather, the roads, riding in the peloton, the cold, the climbs, the downhill... Everything was hard and everything was new in cycling.”
Training and the support of South African team MTN and the UCI helped Grmay make the next step.
Lampre took him to Tirreno-Adriatico, Volta a Catalunya and the Tour de Romandie stage races this spring. Former world champion and teammate Rui Costa was so impressed with the way Grmay climbed and helped the team, that he asked team manager Brent Copeland to bring him to the Tour de France.
"We wanted to," South African Brent Copeland said.
"I see him more as a Tour de France rider than a Giro rider, the way he climbs, the results he has. I saw him going in Catalunya and Romandie, those climbs suit him better.
"When we saw him in Romandie, we thought we should take him to the Giro, get him to work quickly in the deep end."
Grmay is a first in Grand Tour history. Just like China had its first rider, Cheng Ji, in the 2013 Giro in Naples and in the 2014 Tour de France, Grmay made history for Ethiopia when he set off from San Lorenzo al Mare on Saturday's stage one.
"The Giro is already a dream come true, it's a big step," Grmay continued.
"That's why I'm telling you the Tour de France will come soon, because I'm on the way."
Lampre could not be happier for the rider some teammates call 'Gmail' because they have a hard time with his name. Grmay doesn't mind, but tells them his name is pronounced 'Grrr-may.'
Being in a team is nothing new for him, he has been in one all of his life. Having four brothers and five sisters – sharing a bed and room with four of them – conditioned him for life on the road in a Grand Tour cycling team.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Gregor Brown is an experienced cycling journalist, based in Florence, Italy. He has covered races all over the world for over a decade - following the Giro, Tour de France, and every major race since 2006. His love of cycling began with freestyle and BMX, before the 1998 Tour de France led him to a deep appreciation of the road racing season.
-
I'm about to turn 40 - how can I keep riding fast?
Approaching a landmark birthday, Charlie Graham-Dixon explores how ageing affects cycling performance and what can be done to stay ahead of the curve
By Charlie Graham-Dixon Published
-
Life Time Grand Prix to have fewer riders and wild cards in 2025
The flagship US gravel series has confirmed the six races that will be a part of the competition next year
By Adam Becket Published
-
'The chance is there': Tadej Pogačar builds World Championships form with dominant GP Montréal victory
Slovenian full of 'confidence and motivation' after winning final warm up race before Zurich
By Tom Thewlis Last updated
-
Simon Yates says he took a pay cut in order to join Visma-Lease a Bike
32-year-old says it was now or never as he gets set to leave Jayco AIUla after eleven years
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Four months ago I was in the ICU': Jay Vine wins for the first time since suffering spinal fractures in Itzulia horror crash
Australian suffered serious injuries in the Itzulia Basque Country incident
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
A UAE Emirates Tour de France podium clean sweep is a real possibility
Adam Yates, Tadej Pogačar and João Almeida are all hitting form at the perfect time with the Florence Grand Départ fast approaching
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Meet Vegard Stake Laengen, Tadej Pogačar's right-hand man at Grand Tours
The Norwegian bodyguard has been present in each of the Slovenian's Tour de France participations, and is now at the Giro d'Italia, too
By Adam Becket Published
-
'I pulled it off and turned everything around' - Brandon McNulty on the ride that changed him
US star grabbed his first ever Grand Tour win at last year’s Giro d’Italia
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'We were lucky with the weather': Brandon McNulty admits rain helped UAE Emirates edge Paris-Nice stage three team time trial
American pulled on the yellow jersey after a rain soaked finale to stage three in Auxerre
By Tom Thewlis Published
-