Jonasrutsch from Erbach: A helper on the way to the yellow jersey!

Jonasrutsch from Erbach: A helper on the way to the yellow jersey!

What's new from the cycling world? This year the Tour de France has a very special line-up that will not only make the hearts of sports fans beat faster, but will also bring a breath of fresh air to international cycling. A model athlete is 24-year-old Eritrean Biniam Girmay, who is considered a world-class sprinter and is attracting the attention of the entire cycling community. Girmay, who won the green jersey as the best sprinter on the Tour last year, is starting this year with the aim of shining in the final sprint of the Tour and setting further records. The first day of racing starts on Saturday with a 185 kilometer circuit from Lille to Lille, which provides lots of exciting sprints on flat terrain.

Girmay is supported by his teammate Jonasrutsch, a 27-year-old helper from Erbach. Slip will play an important role by assisting Girmay in the race and actively working to control the gap to the leading riders. This effort could be crucial, becauserutsch is aiming for big goals with his Intermarché-Wanty team. In his career so far,rutsch has put in notable performances, including a solid sixth place at Paris-Roubaix in the spring of 2025.

Paving the way for African talent

Why is Girmay such an important symbol in cycling? He is considered the first black rider from Africa to celebrate a stage win at the Tour de France and has thus raised the bar for many young African athletes. Girmay achieved his success despite many hurdles, ranging from cultural upheaval to visa problems. His experiences make him a role model for many - he shows that dreams in cycling from Africa are possible. The home of the cycling prodigy, Eritrea, has a long tradition in cycling, dating back to the Italian colonial era, and is producing more and more talent.

His teammates see him as a unique combination of heart and talent. Aike Visbeek, Intermarché-Wanty's sporting director, believes Girmay's achievements could also inspire other African talents to take up the sport. At the Giro d'Italia 2022, where Girmay was injured, he gave it his all and he now wants to take this dynamic with him into the Tour.

The career of Jonasrutsch

Jonasrutsch knows what is at stake. In addition to the sporting challenge, he is also a police commissioner and has already completed his studies. For him, being nominated for the tour doesn’t just mean sporting recognition: “It’s a reward for my achievements,” said Schiebe. He has taken his commitment to cycling seriously and is now at a turning point in his career. His passion for offensive racing tactics is reflected in his career so far and now it's time to implement this strategy in competition.

Girmay andrutsch represent not only their home countries, but also the emerging boom in African cycling, which is being strongly promoted by initiatives of the UCI, the world cycling association. In 2025, the World Championships will be held for the first time in Africa, specifically in Rwanda, which should give cycling culture on the continent a further boost. While Girmay is considered the “African King,” both athletes show that with hard work, perseverance and team spirit, big dreams can become reality. It will be exciting to see how the next few days of the Tour de France develop!