{"id":427442,"date":"2026-02-15T18:58:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T18:58:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/427442\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T18:58:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T18:58:10","slug":"binian-girmay-sprints-to-second-win-of-the-season-after-flawless-leadout-in-chaotic-finish","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/427442\/","title":{"rendered":"Binian Girmay sprints to second win of the season after flawless leadout in chaotic finish"},"content":{"rendered":"

After receiving a perfect leadout from his team, Binian Girmay<\/a> (NSN) sprinted to his second victory of the season at the Clasica de Almeria<\/a> in Spain.<\/p>\n

Girmay and his team avoided multiple crashes, which took down numerous riders in the final 15 kilometres of the race, before taking over the front in the final kilometre. Sitting behind teammates Hugo Hofstetter and Lewis Askey, Girmay had an armchair ride to the finish line as riders battled for his wheel behind him.<\/p>\n

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After the Eritrean rider opened up his sprint, no one could match his speed, and he held the front to the line.<\/p>\n

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\u201cTo be honest, today, from the start until the finish, our team did a super incredible job, and that’s why I’m coming to this team. And I find perfect guys. I just want to say thank you to everybody,\u201d Girmay said. \u201cThe last 1k, we try to manage together. And, what can I say? We did a perfect dream job.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt’s nice to start [the season] with this incredible teamwork. It will give us super nice motivation to work together and to build up for the biggest races,\u201d added Girmay, who will head to Opening Weekend in Belgium before lining up at Paris-Nice.<\/p>\n

Defending champion Milan Fretin (Cofidis) took second, and 20023 winner Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello Q36.5) was third in Roquetas de Mar. Dylan Groenewegen (Unibet Rose Rockets) put in a strong burst of speed but was a bit out of position and finished fourth.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were waiting for the right move, but I think we waited a little bit too long, and it was really hectic. And here in the final, I had Piet [Allegaert] with me, and the guys were not there. But it’s not easy on this race, we know it from the years before,\u201d said Fretin, who lost at least one teammate to one of the crashes.<\/p>\n

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\u201cThe experience of the last years, I know what to do here in the final, and still came second. But I think for now, today was the highest I could do. I wasted a bit too much energy,\u201d the Belgian concluded.<\/p>\n

How it unfolded<\/p>\n

The 20-team field for the 39th edition of the sprinters\u2019 race included three former winners in defending champion Milan Fretin (Cofidis), 2023 winner Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello Q36.5) and two-time winner Pascal Ackermann (2019, 2020) of Jayco-AlUla.<\/p>\n

Under sunny skies, the attacks came from kilometre zero of the 189km race with five riders, all from ProTeams, escaping early on after the start in Puebla de V\u00edcar.<\/p>\n

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Working well together, Javier Iba\u00f1ez (Caja Rural-Seguros), Pablo Carrascosa (Kern Pharma), Ander Okamika (Burgos Burpellet BH), Brem Deman (Flanders-Baloise) and Hungarian champion Marton Dina (MBH Bank Ballan Telecom Fort) built up a maximum lead of 5:37 after 50 kilometres of racing.<\/p>\n

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\"ROQUETAS\n<\/p>\n

The early breakaway with Ander Okamika (Burgos Burpellet BH), Brem Deman (Flanders – Baloise), Pablo Carrascosa (Kern Pharma), Javier Iba\u00f1ez Caja Rural – Seguros RGA and Marton Dina (MBH Bank CSB Telecom Fort) (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

The sprinters\u2019 teams of NSN, Cofidis, TotalEnergies and Unibet Rose Rockets put one rider each in the rotation at the front of the peloton to slowly reel the quintet back, reducing their advantage to 19 seconds with 33 kilometres to go.<\/p>\n

During their time off the front, Okamika was first on the first three categorised climbs that peppered the course – Alto de Cel\u00edn (cat. 2), Alto de R\u00edo Chico (cat. 3) and Alto de Berja (cat. 3) – to secure the mountains jersey.<\/p>\n

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\"ROQUETAS\n<\/p>\n

NSN, Unibet Rose Rockets, Cofidis and TotalEnergies each put a rider in the rotation to control the gap to the break (Image credit: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

Although the escapees still held a small advantage as they crossed the line in Roquetas de Mar to begin the first lap of the finishing circuit, their move was always doomed, with the peloton back together by the time 24 kilometres to go.<\/p>\n

At least four successive crashes at the back of the field took down different riders, including Valentin Ferron (Cofidis), Mikel Retegi (Kern Pharma), Bastien Tronchon (Groupama-FDJ United), in the final 13 km of the race.<\/p>\n

Due to speed and the crashes, a now reduced peloton regrouped and was led by NSN. Cofidis and Lotto-Intermarch\u00e9 as they crossed the finish line to start the bell lap.<\/p>\n

Teams battled for position in a fight for control in the final three kilometres. Tudor got organised at the front inside of 2 kilometres, taking over from Pinarello, but NSN pushed to the front with a full leadout train, with Arnaud De Lie (Lotto Intermarch\u00e9) sitting on on Girmay’s wheel. First of all Lewis Askey led into the final corner, and then Hugo Hofstetter took over, until Girmay opened his sprint and held it to the line.<\/p>\n

Results<\/p>\n

Results powered by FirstCycling<\/a><\/p>\n

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