Among the choices that Girmay did have related to adapting to life in Europe and the new training regimes.
“He was a junior in 2018 when he came here for the first time,” Henry said. “We had him in July, August and September, to prepare for the World Championship in Innsbruck. It was too cold for him. It was 4 July – it was warm – but it was too cold for him.
“So it was quite tough to prepare him because we had to change a lot of things, his lifestyle, his routines. You can eat just vegetables or pastries and ‘OK, it’s good’ but you need to have a great balance between these kinds of foods with some carbohydrates or with some proteins.”
The next challenge for Girmay was the surfaces in Europe, something he would eventually overcome when wining the 78th edition of the Gent-Wevelgem one-day classic on the famous cobbled streets of Belgium.
“He didn’t like the cobblestones,” said Henry. “He always told us: ‘I don’t like that. I don’t want to race on cobblestones.’ Now he can win those races in the world tour.
“Now he has changed his mind. he enjoyed it. To win these kinds of races, you have to enjoy those cobblestone sections.”
Girmay claimed the second stage of June’s Tour de Suisse – this after recovering from a horror crash at the Tour of Flanders which wiped out most of the peloton.
Henry still keeps a close eye on his protege, who he says is a “special rider and sprinter” but is “not a pure climber, he will not be so efficient in big mountains”.
Beyond the rider, however, Henry believes Girmay’s impact on the sport is only just at the start line.
“After his career he can be someone who can help to develop cycling in Africa and in Eritrea, and give his experience.
“He can turn into a symbol, as African athletes can succeed in Europe and in the best races in the world.”
