Biniam Girmay was named African Cyclist of the Year for the second year in a row after winning a historic silver medal in the under-23 road race at the World Championships in Leuven.

The Eritrean won the sprint in second place behind lone winner Filippo Baroncini (Italy), becoming the first black African to medal in a world championship road race.

Gilmey started 2021 with Delko, but moved to the WorldTour mid-season, joining Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux. His contract with the Belgian team runs through the 2024 season.

He won his first European victory at the Tour de Pollogne, winning from a breakaway group that included Thibaut Pinot (Groupama-FDJ) and Nairo Quintana (Team Arkea-Samsic).

The 21-year-old, who won a medal at the World Championships, finished fifth in La Route Adélie and Gran Piemonte.

The African Cyclist of the Year award has been run by the organizers of Tropical Amissa Bongo since 2012, and Gilmey is the second rider to win the award twice, after Louis Meintjes won in 2013 and 2017.

Girmay became the fifth Eritrean recipient of the award, following Natnael Berhane (2012), Mekseb Debesay (2014), Daniel Teklehaimanot (2015), and Tesfom Okubarmariam (2016). The other winners are Joseph Aleruya of Rwanda in 2018 and Daryl Impey of South Africa in 2019.

The 25-member selection committee was chaired this year by Bernard Hinault, and Girmay was named the 2021 African Cyclist ahead of Ryan Gibbons (UAE Team Emirates) and Melhawi Kudus (Astana).

Henoch Muluebulhan (Qhubeka-NextHash) came in fourth, while Girmay's Intermarché teammate Meintjes came in fifth.

"Biniam Girmay proved once again this year that he is the most promising athlete in African cycling," said Inoh. 'His success at the World Championships is no coincidence. Leuven attracted some of the best riders of his generation and he finished second. It's fantastic! This is a well-deserved recognition."