Biniam Girmay to miss Glasgow World Championships amid reports of UK visa issues
Three other Eritrean riders: Natnael Tesfatsion, Merhawi Kudus, and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, also reported to have been denied UK visas
![Biniam Girmay on stage at the Tour de France 2023](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/p2JbTvJeTfJkxH2Dn8GGWU-415-80.jpg)
Biniam Girmay is to miss the Glasgow World Championships due to injury, his team has announced, amid reports that the Eritrean had faced issues gaining a visa.
On Wednesday morning, GCN News reported that Girmay, along with his Eritrean teammates Natnael Tesfatsion, Merhawi Kudus, and Amanuel Ghebreigzabhier, had all been denied visas to enter the UK for the worlds.
However, later on Wednesday, Girmay's team, Intermarché-Circus-Wanty, published a press release saying that he would miss the worlds due to an injury sustained at last week's Clasica San Sebastián.
Intermarché's statement read: "[Girmay] crashed at a speed of more than 60 kilometres per hour and suffers from contusions and pain in the hip, preventing him from defending his chances at the Elite World Championships."
Girmay added that he was "very disappointed" to be missing the World Championships which he said was his “main goal for this season since last winter".
Girmay said in the statement. "I had a good feeling after the Tour de France, but my crash in the Classica San Sebastián caused too severe pain to be able to defend my chances in the worlds.
"My priority is now to recover from this crash and then the preparation for the last part of the season, with nice goals in one day races such as the Grand Prix de Plouay and Canadian classics.”
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
GCN reported that while Girmay, Tesfatsion, Kudus, and Ghebreigzabhier were facing visa issues, their three other Eritrean teammates Natnael Berhane, Henok Mulubrahn, and Dawit Yemane had all been granted entry.
It is unclear why the four were denied visas. CW understands that Girmay has a Schengen visa, which allows him to travel through the EU unimpeded, although he would have needed to apply for an extra visa in order to travel to the UK.
He lives in San Marino, a state enclaved within Italy, along with Tesfatsion and Ghebreigzabhier. GCN reported that the four were still hoping to obtain visas and travel to Glasgow for the worlds.
Girmay would have been among the favourites for the road race on Sunday, with its Amstel Gold Race-like course suiting his qualities as a rider. He became the first African to win a cobbled Classic at Gent-Wevelgem last year and followed this up by being the first Black African to win a stage of the Giro d’Italia.
He raced the Tour de France this July, finishing third on stage seven to Bordeaux.
Intermarché, Girmay's agent, the Eritrean Cycling Federation, and the UK Home Office were all contacted for comment on the visa issue, but had not responded by time of publication.
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
Adam is Cycling Weekly’s news editor – his greatest love is road racing but as long as he is cycling on tarmac, he's happy. Before joining Cycling Weekly he spent two years writing for Procycling, where he interviewed riders and wrote about racing. He's usually out and about on the roads of Bristol and its surrounds. Before cycling took over his professional life, he covered ecclesiastical matters at the world’s largest Anglican newspaper and politics at Business Insider. Don't ask how that is related to cycling.
-
A Stars and Stripes jersey and cold hard cash: the 2024 Gravel National Championships to offer a $40,000 prize purse for elite races
The US Gravel National Championships will return to Gering, Nebraska, on September 8
By Anne-Marije Rook Published
-
Tadej Pogačar broke 288 Strava KOMs during Tour de France victory
Slovenian won his third Tour title in Nice last weekend, and picked up a host of new trophies on Strava
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'Now it’s better if I don’t look at my phone': Biniam Girmay becomes a Tour de France superstar
The Eritrean won a third Tour stage of 2024 on Thursday, stamping his authority on the race
By Adam Becket Published
-
Jasper Philipsen says fortunes 'will turn around' after another Tour de France second place
"Once we have better luck then we’re on the move," says Philipsen after another second place in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
The new sprint king: Biniam Girmay reveals plan to win the Tour de France's green jersey
The Eritrean scored his second win of the race and now holds a comfortable lead in the race for green
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Biniam Girmay made Tour de France history, but cycling should also reflect on why it has taken so long
The Eritrean became the first black African to win a Tour stage on Monday, after doing similar at the Giro d’Italia two years ago, but he shouldn’t be the only black rider in a peloton of 176
By Adam Becket Published
-
Biniam Girmay's Tour de France stage win shines a light on visa issues facing young African cyclists
Eritrean’s problems obtaining a visa in the early stages very nearly derailed his career
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Inside Biniam Girmay's remarkable journey to history-making Tour de France stage winner
Biniam Girmay, the first black African to win a Tour de France stage, charts his extraordinary rise
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
‘I knew I was the favourite’ - Lotte Kopecky delivers on World Championships pressure to win rainbow jersey
The Belgian powered away from her rivals to land road world title in the streets of Glasgow
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Lizzie Deignan ‘optimistic’ after impressive World Championships performance
Brit says she felt the efforts of early breakaway in closing stages of ‘relentless’ race
By Tom Thewlis Published