Biniam Girmay does not have a goal; he has a mission: to spread cycling throughout Africa, the barefoot continent. That’s why he runs. Hence the liberating cry of him when he defeated Jesi.

When a few weeks ago he won a classic of the stature of Ghent-Wevelem, he proclaimed out loud what his goal really was: “I want to be an example for Africa.” It already is. I know

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