Henok Mulubrhan: aiming for a Rwanda podium

Tomorrow, the 14th Tour of Rwanda kicks off with a 4K prologue in Kigali. One of the most prominent African riders on the start list is Henok Mulubrhan from Eritrea. In the 2019 edition, Mulubrhan was twelfth in the general classification, while in 2020 he ended the Tour in nineth position. This year, he wants to do even better and aim for a spot on the podium. 

In 2020 and 2021, his last two seasons in the U23 category, Mulubrhan rode for Qhubeka’s continental team. He managed to obtain some very promising results, mainly in Italy, such as an eleventh place in the Baby Giro and a second place at the highly acclaimed Italian U23 race Giro del Medio Brenta. A maybe even better performance was his sixth place among the pros in the Giro dell Appennino. Obviously, his results didn’t go unnoticed with his team management either. In July, the team announced that Mulubrhan would move up to the WorldTour team 2022. 

However, we all know how that story ended. Qhubeka didn’t find the necessary fundings to continue and Mulubrhan was left without a contract for this season. Only in January, he signed with Bike Aid, a German continental with a similar mission as his previous team: to develop African cycling and riders. He just finished his first race with the team, the Tour of Antalya in Turkey. There, he took fourth place on the queen stage and sixth on GC. We catch up with Henok while he is on Istanbul Airport, waiting to catch a plane to Rwanda.

So Henok, are you happy with how things went in Antalya?

“In general, we did very well as a team last week. The course was not very demanding, three out of four stages were almost completely flat and ended in a bunch sprint. There was only one mountain top finish, so I really looked forward to do well on that stage. My legs were good and for the entire climb, I could maintain a good position. However, within the final kilometre, I made a small mistake and I got boxed in. I couldn’t overtake the first riders and go for victory anymore. But I’m satisfied with my form and I feel ready for Rwanda.”

I feel ready for the Tour of Rwanda and I’m definitely going for General Classification. I believe a podium spot should be within my reach.

What do you want to achieve over there?

“It’s really a big goal for me. The terrain suits me a lot better than the one in Antalya and I’ve done well there before. So I’m definitely going for a stage win and also for the General Classification. I believe a podium spot should be within my reach.”

In normal circumstances, you would have been at the start in another jersey, the one of the Qhubeka World Tour team. How have you experienced the last months, the insecurity of not having a team?

“Of course, I was looking forward to joining the WorldTour team very much. At the time, I also had an offer from B&B Hotels. Everything was ready, I just had to sign. But I have been very happy at Qhubeka for two years, I was really thankful to Douglas Ryder and the management, I still am. So I really wanted to stay and continue my journey with them. It’s just a pity that by the time it became clear things would not work out, the opportunity with B&B was gone as well.”

And in the months after, have you been contacted by any other WorldTour teams?

“Honestly, I don’t know, it’s my manager Alex Carera who deals with those kind of things. I just kept focusing on cycling, only cycling. It’s my passion, it’s my life. It means everything to me, and to my family as well. But of course, still being without a team at the end of December made me a bit nervous, it was difficult to keep the focus and stay motivated. It’s also frustrating, I feel that it’s very difficult for us African riders to find a contract. And I don’t know why that is. Maybe sponsors and management are not familiar enough with African riders and African cycling. Of course, they don’t have to sign us when we don’t have the legs. But last year, I have shown that I have the level it takes. I see some European riders who do get a contract, and I know they are not better than me.”

I feel that it’s very difficult for us African riders to find a contract. Some European riders do get one, and I know they are not better than me. And I don’t know why that is.

Biniam Ghirmay is now blossoming and achieving some very good results at Intermarché. Do you think that can change things for the opportunities African riders get?

“Maybe, I hope so. The Worlds in Rwanda will be very important as well. I hope people will see that we can organize a bike race, that we do have good roads and good riders. And how popular cycling is in Africa. Not only in Rwanda by the way, also in Eritrea. I have grown up in our capital Asmara, and we have no less than six cycling clubs. I started very young myself, at nine years old. Until 2017, we also had the Tour of Eritrea. I hope it can come back soon.”

What does your season look like after Rwanda?

“There still is a lot of uncertainty, I don’t even know yet where I will live this year. For the past two years, I was based in Lucca, in Italy. I liked it very much there, so maybe I’ll stay there. Another option is the team house in Germany. In terms of races, I will surely be at the African Championships in Egypt at the end of March. And in April, the plan is to ride the Tour of Turkey. After that we will see. I have signed with Bike Aid for one year, but I also have an agreement with them that I could leave earlier if an opportunity comes up. Bike Aid is a very professional team, the material and support is good, but I don’t have the chance to race in many high profile races here. So my manager continues to look out for me to get my chance at a higher level. The World Tour is still my objective. Never give up!”