Henok Mulubrhan: Two-time African champion 'motivated to reach the top' and emulate Eritrean cycling hero Biniam Girmay
The 2023 African Cyclist of the Year discussed the rise of Eritrean cycling and explained why African riders need more opportunities: "At the moment, there are not many races in Africa where they can show what they can do," the 24-year-old said in an exclusive interview with Olympics.com.
Cycling Road
Over the last decade, Eritrea has established itself as Africa’s leading cycling nation.
Since the country’s Olympic pioneer Daniel Teklehaimanot put the ‘Red Sea Camels’ on the map by wearing the polka dot jersey at the 2015 Tour de France, several riders from the East African nation have joined WorldTour teams (the premier series in road cycling) and are making names for themselves.
“Eritrean cyclists are really increasing their level and this represents motivation for all of us,” said two-time African champion and 2023 African Cyclist of the Year, Henok Mulubrhan, who races for the Astana Qazaqstan Team. “After the results of the last few years, everyone is motivated to reach the top. We are on the right path.”
Mulubrhan started his career in Europe alongside Biniam Girmay, currently Eritrea’s most-recognised rider thanks to his historic stage wins at the 2022 Giro d’Italia and the Tour de France this year. “Bini and I are really good friends. We raced together at the UCI World Cycling Centre in Switzerland. His success hasn’t changed him. He’s always the same.”
Curiously, the 24-year-old shares a special anniversary with his friend, having claimed his first African title on 27 March 2022, the same day that Girmay became the first Black African to win a classic race at Gent-Wevelgem.
“It was a massive moment for African and Eritrean cycling,” said Mulubrhan, who lives near Florence, Italy, with another Eritrean rider, Natnael Tesfatsion, who recently joined Spain’s Movistar Team.
Henok Mulubrhan: ‘Fans now recognise Eritrean riders’
In Eritrea, cycling is almost a religion, and when he’s home, ‘Heni’ can feel the passion of his people.
“In Eritrea, people love riders when they pass by. They like taking pictures with you, but I’ve never had any issues while training,” said Mulubrhan, who will return to Asmara, the city where he grew up, after his last race of the season, the Japan Cup, at the end of the month.
Italians introduced the sport to the country in the late 19th century during their brief colonial rule. Eritreans embraced it and it has since become part of their culture. Watching the Tour de France together on TV is now a traditional pastime, and in August, thousands of fans filled the main street of the capital to welcome Girmay, fresh from his green jersey win.
Support for the red, blue, green, and yellow team even goes beyond national borders.
“In Eritrea, there’s a great atmosphere, and people recognise me. But now, even in Europe, cycling fans are looking for Biniam, me, and other Eritrean riders," Mulubrhan said. "It makes me proud to have people supporting us."
Racing the 2025 Worlds in Africa ‘an extra motivation’
Eritrean and African riders have already marked next year’s World Road Championships on their calendars. The event is taking place in Kigali, Rwanda, on a course featuring 5,500 metres of climbing.
“The course will be very hard but it will be a really big opportunity for African riders to show what they can do and do a good race," Mulubrhan said. "The fact they will be the first Worlds in Africa, it will be an extra motivation."
The Astana rider is familiar with the roads of the Worlds host nation, having won the Tour of Rwanda last year.
“In Rwanda, it’s not too cold. There are some rainy days, but in general, the weather conditions are good. The roads are nice, and it feels like racing in Belgium, with many ups and downs and short, steep climbs. There’s a great atmosphere in the country," he said. “In Rwanda, people really love cycling, and it’s very similar to Eritrea. Every year, they become more passionate about the sport."
"To race in Africa, near your country, is a great motivation for African riders,” Henok Mulubrhan to Olympics.com
Henok Mulubrhan: African riders need more opportunities
While the Worlds represent a great platform to showcase cycling on the continent, African riders generally have limited opportunities to secure a professional career, according to Mulubrhan: “Unfortunately, there are not enough races for the African young riders to show their qualities. The Worlds are a good opportunity, but it’s just one race. Young African riders need to compete in more stage races in Africa. There’s only the Tour of Rwanda now.
“At the moment it’s hard for African riders to receive a contract offer from a European team because there are not many races in Africa where they can show what they can do.”
The 24-year-old was first invited — alongside Girmay — to join the U23 UCI World Cycling Centre team, following his successful performances in local races and Eritrean national championships. That is how he got noticed and was offered his first contract by the Qhubeka Continental team before the African squad lost its WorldTour licence in 2022.
“This kind of teams can help African riders,” Mulubrhan said. “Also, the World Tour teams should look for young African riders in their development squads. That would help African riders. Otherwise, how can they see their talent if they only race in Eritrea? How can they know if they are good or not?”
Henok Mulubrhan is a two-time African champion.
On the chase for a WorldTour win
“I think I am a puncheur,” Mulubrhan said, when asked to describe himself. “I can sprint in a small group, and I am able to climb, although not for long climbs. I’m a kind of aggressive rider.”
After the folding of Qhubeka, Henok — as he is called in Eritrea — joined the Italian team Bardiani CSF Farzané. In 2023, he had his best season to date, winning his second African title, the Tour of Rwanda and the Tour of Qinghai, and taking part in his first (of two) Giro d’Italia.
For these successes he was named African Cyclist of the Year, taking over the title from Girmay, who has held it since 2020.
“It's not easy to be recognised as the best on the continent, so I’m happy for that, but I still want to progress and continue to improve,” Mulubrhan said.
His performances caught the attention of Astana, who offered him a two-year contract. “I’m very happy with what I’m doing. In my first season, in the first stage of the Tour of Alula, I crashed. Then I finished second in stage two, and in stage three, I broke my collarbone, which forced me to stop for over a month,” said the Eritrean rider, who has honed his trade in more WorldTour stage races this season, such as the Tour of Catalunya and Tour de Romandie.
But just participating is not enough for Mulubrhan.
“Every rider is going for winning, not just for racing," he said. "My dream is to have a WorldTour race win for the team, but also for me. Winning a stage in a Grand Tour would be amazing."
With a mindset like that, the African cycling revolution is sure to continue.