Biniam Girmay has signed a new long-term contract with Intermarque Wantigobert through the end of the 2026 season, his team announced.

The 22-year-old Eritrean left the French Delco team midway through the 2021 season to join the Belgian team, where he made history by winning silver in the U23 road race at the Leuven World Championships.

This season, Guillemay won the Trofeo Arcadia in January, followed by a fifth-place finish at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic, and also became the first African rider to win a classic in Gent-Wevelgem.

Due to his success in Ghent-Wevelgem, Cyclingnews understood that he and his agent, Alex Carrera, would sign a new contract with the team, worth three times their previous deal of 300,000 euros per season.

Italian reports indicated that Ineos Grenadiers was interested in signing Gilmay, who had already signed a contract through 2024, but he has now committed to the team for the long term, signing a new contract for four seasons.

"Intermarche Wanty-Gobert is my family. 'I am as motivated as ever to keep the colors of this team alive until at least 2026. I'm happy to be on this team and that's the most important thing.

"We share the same ambition and the whole team is looking in the same direction for new milestones every year. This dynamism is what drives everyone to surpass themselves. Another factor that sets Intermarque Wanty-Gobert apart from any other team is its management. From day one, the performance cell showed confidence by listening to my needs and creating a tailor-made race program and long-term plan.

"They believed in my ability to perform in the most prestigious races. I am confident that my fellow countrymen will be pleased to hear that my future is tied to a team that has given me the opportunity to mark an important page in African cycling history. I hope that this winning combination will lead to more unforgettable moments in the next years."

Based in San Marino, Girmay extended his spring campaign to take on this race, returning to Eritrea after winning Ghent-Wevelgem. Back in Europe after a rest, he will tackle the Eschborn-Frankfurt World Tour race on Sunday before making his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia in Hungary.

He will aim for a stage win in the Corsa Rosa and possibly the Ciclamino points jersey.

"It was only natural to continue the adventure we started last summer with Biniam Girmay. We have always believed in his ability and talent and that is why we convinced him to join our project last year when he had to change the direction of his career," said team CEO Jean-François Broulard.

"From the first time he put on our colors and stepped on the pedals, we were able to welcome him like family and at the same time offer him a long-term plan and a performance-oriented structure.

"I was convinced he would be the first African to win a major classic. But he was much faster than we expected! I am proud to continue working with Binium until at least the end of 2026. This gives us a great perspective, in line with our long-term philosophy, which has always been based on long-standing relationships with our partners.

"We must remember that Binyam is only 22 years old and we cannot cut corners in his development. We must remember that Binyam is only 22 years old and we cannot cut corners in his development. We can surround him with the right people and a good team, and I am confident that Biniam and the other riders will give us a lot of great inspiration