Biniam Girmay (Intermarque Wanty) will be looking to replace the arm warmers and cold of his January European opener with the Australian heat for his debut on the Tour Down Under.

The Eritrean native is looking for his fourth World Tour win before the Spring Classic.

Jill May has had success in Spain the past two seasons, winning the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana and the Mallorca Challenge.

"Personally, I prefer to race in hot weather than cold. It's a good race, it's a World Tour race, and you have a chance to win a stage," he said at the pre-race press conference.

"It's also my first Tour Down Under, so I need to change my plans from the past two years. We had some good results, but the weather didn't allow us to do our best and we weren't in very good shape, so we're trying to change things up a little bit and start here.

"Honestly, I'm focused on the early part of the season. First here, then the Classic. After that I have a plan A and a plan B. I'll see how I feel in the first races and then decide if I want to go for the Olympics and the Tour.

Journalists wanted to know that this African star lives in Eritrea. He does, in fact, live in Asmara, the sixth-highest capital city in the world.

"The best thing is that I live at a high altitude, my hometown is about 2,400 meters above sea level. The last few months I went to the beach because I needed to adapt to the heat," Gil May said.

"It's a great time to train at home, but I haven't raced yet, so I honestly don't know how I'm doing.

Intermacher Wanty teammate Madis Michels was the best rider on the Belgian team with 18th place in the Down Under Classic, where Gilmey was 51st, but the punch of all six stages, starting in Tanunda and climaxing in Mount Lofty He should be inspired by the punchy finishes and flat sprints in all six stages, which begin in Tanunda and culminate in Mount Lofty.

The Eritrean has become a star of world cycling in recent years, making history with victories in Ghent-Wevelgem and the Giro d'Italia in 2022. However, he suffered a crash in 2023, and last season, his Tour de France debut, was not as successful, except for a brilliant sprint win at the Tour de Suisse.

Gil May will be on the start line with compatriot Nathanael Tesfacion (Lidl-Trek). He started the season on a high note, finishing second to Honatan Narvaez in the Down Under Classic in the Americas, a continent that continues to produce World Tour talent.

It was recently announced that the 2025 UCI Road World Championships in Kigali, Rwanda (the first to be held in Africa) will be co-hosted by the experienced Amaury Sports Organization (A.S.O.) and Gorasso, but Gilmey will not be a favorite due to its extreme climbing It won't be, but he is very proud of the continent's growth in cycling.

"It's certainly a big thing. It's the first time that a world championship is being held [in Africa]. I think it will be big for me personally and for the African countries, especially the cycling countries," Gilmey said.

"I'm really looking forward to participating, but unfortunately it's really only for climbers as it's up to 5500m altitude.

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