As the weeks of competition continue, the professional runners of Team Komugi - Grand Est are gaining momentum and showing the extent of their talent by dynamiting the start of the race. We take the wheel of one of the actresses of this collective: more than a simple athlete, we introduce you to the incredible story and moving journey of Eyeru Tesfoam Gebru. Ethiopian athlete, member of the refugee Olympic team and bearer of the Olympic flame, let's take the road to Paris 2024!
A talented climber, often on the offensive, Eyeru Tesfoam Gebru has found her place and her role within Team Komugi - Grand Est. At ease when the road rises, she was able to once again highlight her temperament recently during the Tour of Burgos, an event on the women's WorldTour calendar, where she and the girls of our partner team were able to rub shoulders with the leaders of the world peloton. She looks back on her feelings and her start to the season:
“This is my second season with the team and I am very happy with this new family who supports me daily. My French is improving a lot. I had very good winter preparation. My season started correctly, the form arrived as the days went by. Above all, I feel that I have progressed a lot compared to last year and since I returned to cycling. I am very optimistic for the future. »
For the 27-year-old athlete from Aksum, northern Ethiopia, cycling is a great love story, but one that took a long time to begin:
“The most popular sport in my country is running, but there are also many talents in cycling. When I was 6 or 7 years old, I was a spectator at a race in my town. When the runners passed me, I loved it and all I wanted to do was get on a bike. But it wasn't easy, because this sport is expensive and I couldn't afford it. I had to wait until I was 10 years old to borrow a bike from one of my neighbors and first learn to pedal. »
A career strewn with pitfalls, despite itself, builds an admirable character and mentality. Arriving in Europe in the summer of 2017, Eyeru joined the UCI World Center women's program the following year. Two seasons followed with the WCC Team, the central UCI team. Eyeru returned to Ethiopia in October 2020. A few weeks later, civil war broke out in her region, Tigray. She lost loved ones and found herself separated from her mother, without means of communication. After eight months of fear, she was selected for the 2021 UCI Road World Championships in Belgium, but she was unable to participate and disappeared.
She finally found relative security, but the difficulties persisted: “I thought it would be easier in Europe. But it was very difficult, especially without protection or contacts . ” Her situation began to improve with the acceptance of her asylum application in July 2022. Settled in France, she received help with housing and began to learn French. She was able to resume cycling, which helped her overcome difficult times: “ It was like therapy, cycling saved my life ” ( testimony that can be found on the UCI website ). She shares this period with us with emotion:
“Coming back into the peloton last year after everything that happened to me is a pretty incredible feeling. I am extremely happy to be able to continue playing the sport I love. From 2020 to 2022, it was long and the most difficult period of my life to overcome with the situation Ethiopia was going through. My life has completely changed, I have seen and experienced such difficult times. I was brave enough to overcome them and I am proud of the person I am, for having overcome this ordeal, for being strong and for having followed my dreams. »
Athlete and bearer of the Olympic flame, the second part of the year is likely to be rich in emotions and memories for Eyeru, with her head already turned towards Paris 2024 where she will swap her Chef de File x Komugi - Grand Est jersey for that of the selection of the Refugee Olympic Team:
“I have my head turned towards the end of the season where I want to achieve my personal goals, but also those of the team. I want to play a role within the collective by having as much fun as possible on the bike with my teammates. I have races that suit my profile well in June and September, events that are more typical for climbers. The objective will also be to prepare myself well for the Olympic Games in Paris where I want to show the best of myself. I will also be a torchbearer of the Olympic flame (Editor's note: flame that she will carry in the Calvados department). It means a lot to me, it’s a great honor. »
A future which looks bright and which is intended to be a continuation of the cocoon that Eyeru has been able to build: “ Things are going well, I have many kind people around me to support me and help me achieve my goals. dreams . » With the desire to shine on and off the bike: “ I want to focus 100% on cycling, but on the other hand, I also plan to continue my studies. »
Our partners are talented and deserve to be highlighted!
Thanks to Eyeru Tesfoam Gebru - professional runner - Komugi Grand Est for the time given and to Xavier Pereyron for the photo credits.
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