The refugee who could ride the Giro d'Italia: Awet Gebremedhin's extraordinary path into professional cycling

Eritrean climber signs for Israel Cycling Academy in 2018

Awet Gebremedhin has signed for Israel Cycling Academy less than three years after being granted refugee status

(Image credit: Israel Cycling Academy)

Three weeks on from having their only Muslim rider quit the team, Israel Cycling Academy have signed a replacement: Awet Gebremedhin, a 25-year-old Eritrean climber with an extraordinary backstory

Gebremedhin has had to deal with more setbacks than most young riders aiming to become a professional riders, running away after a stint of racing in Italy to hide in a friend's house in Sweden as he applied for asylum, fearing that he would be arrested and deported if he was discovered by the authorities.

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Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.