Cycling may add flavor to Biniam Guillemay's life, but what's inside is family. Despite his victory in Ghent-Wevelgem on Sunday, he resisted the temptation to stay in Belgium a little longer to ride next weekend's Tour de Flanders.

The 21-year-old will return to Eritrea on Tuesday, as planned, to see his wife and young daughter for the first time since leaving his home in the capital Asmara on January 3. Londo is an afterthought.

"Family is the most important thing," Zillmey told a press conference in Zedelhem on Monday. For me, my family is more important than my bike. My wife has been taking care of the baby for the last three months. I'm feeling good, but I'm still following my plan. I will do it (the Tour of Flanders) in the future. It's just the beginning, so I have a lot of time."

Extended periods away from home are an everyday occurrence in professional cycling, but the hardships are always more pronounced for riders from outside the sport's traditional Western European heartland. European governments also tend to place excessive administrative obstacles in the path of Eritrean citizens who wish to visit. So the most convenient way for Girmay to see his family is to fly from Paris to Asmara on Tuesday.

"Of course, once the season starts, I have a schedule. My wife accepted that, and so did I," said Gil May, who makes San Marino his European base. 'But now it's not easy to stay a week longer. I'll be spending time with my family in Eritrea, so it's more important for me to return home."

Asmara, the world's sixth-highest capital, is also an ideal training base for Gilmey as he prepares for his next big goal: his Grand Tour debut at the Giro d'Italia in May. Instead of Mount Teide or the Sierra Nevada, the quiet inland roads of Gilmey's hometown will be the site of his Giro preparation.

"I usually live in Asmara, the capital, at 2,400 meters altitude. It's perfect for me. I don't need to go to altitude anywhere else," Gilmey said. Many amateur riders train with me when I am home. There is a good chance I could train there."

Gilmey's historic win in Ghent-Wevelgem came after a remarkable debut on the cobbles at the E3 Saxo Bank Classic 48 hours earlier and a fifth-place finish in Harelbeke. With this success, Intermarche Wanty-Gobert will now add Ghent-Wevelgem to his program, and his victory will likely change the trajectory of an already promising career.

"I still see myself as I used to be," Zillmey said. 'I'm not used to being out in front of people like this. This is my first time and I need time."

He will have to get used to it quickly. If Gilmey's silver medal at last year's Under 23 World Championships was a reminder of his potential for the future, his victory in Ghent-Wevelgem underscores his ability to win the biggest races here and now.

Many of the biggest WorldTour teams, which passed up the chance to sign Gilmey last year when the Delco team faced financial problems, will try to keep him away from Intermarché when his contract expires in 2024.

"This team is like a family, not just for two years, maybe more. I am very happy to be with this team," Gilmey said, smiling when asked about Intermarche's future plans. This is the project."