Biniam Girmay has terminated his contract early with Intermarché-Wanty ahead of an expected deal with NSN Cycling, the team formerly known as Israel-Premier Tech.
The Eritrean sprinter, a three-time Tour de France stage winner, had a contract with the Belgian team which ran until 2028, but amid the Lotto-Intermarché merger, has been allowed to leave.
“It has been a wonderful journey for me with Intermarché-Wanty,” Girmay said in a statement. “I am still grateful for the belief they showed in me five years ago and for giving me the chance to become a World Tour rider.
“I truly enjoyed working with this team — the riders, the staff, and the management — everyone contributed something important. At times, we have to embrace change. Now it is time for a new chapter, I want to thank everyone at Intermarché-Wanty for the past five seasons.”
“I look back on many happy and memorable moments with Biniam,” Jean-François Bourlart, Intermarché’s CEO, said. “We are proud of the journey we shared, where we helped transform this immense talent into a key figure in world cycling. Naturally, some moments will remain forever etched in memory, such as his medal at the U23 World Championships in Leuven, his victories at Gent-Wevelgem and the Giro d’Italia.
“The win at the Circuit Franco-Belge, in front of our partners and just a stone’s throw from our Service Course, was also a highlight. And then that victory in Turin, our first on the Tour de France, and the green jersey in Nice – these are moments forever…