Sometimes events move faster than expected. We had only just reported from Benin, about a day and a story we wanted to tell. And now we already have to reach out again.
BIKE AID has just returned from the Tour du Bénin in West Africa. There, Kristiāns Belohvoščiks won the overall classification of the six-day stage race, while Oscar Schempp celebrated two victories.
Critics will say: “Now they are winning races in Africa.”
But these races were extremely important for our newly rebuilt team. After the major changes to the roster for 2026, the current challenge is to turn many new riders into a functioning unit again. To learn how to win together, build trust and grow as a team.
Above all, the many positive reactions confirmed to us that travelling to Benin was the right decision. Through these results, many people became aware for the first time of cycling races in West Africa. Of a team called BIKE AID from Saarland, Germany. That is also part of our mission: creating attention, opening perspectives and reaching people who otherwise would never engage with such stories.
The big question therefore was: can BIKE AID carry this momentum directly into high level European racing?
2025 was the year BIKE AID suddenly started surprising people at major races. When Anton Schiffer finished second overall at the Tour of Hellas 2025, even the TV commentators could hardly believe it.
“Of course you feel pressure to continue where you already arrived before. But that is not how elite sport works, especially not for a Continental team competing against top international squads,” says Matthias Schnapka.
And then today happens at the opening stage of the Tour of Hellas
Kristiāns Belohvoščiks sprints to third place immediately after his overall victory in Benin, securing another podium at a European UCI 2.1 race. Another strong signal for the team and everyone supporting this journey.
But the real story is even bigger
Nahom Efriem.
19 years old.
From Eritrea.
He had never been to Europe before.
In 2025, he won the Eritrean junior championship and achieved the best result of all male African riders at the World Championships in Rwanda with 11th place. A talent that has already attracted the attention of major international teams.
Still, you have to stay realistic. A junior rider from Eritrea. First professional race. First day in Europe. First raceday at all in the 2026 Season.
Normally, the goal would simply be to gain experience.
But Nahom had been waiting for this moment for months. Again and again, his visa process was delayed. Again and again, he had to wait. We asked ourselves: what does this do to a young rider who is full of hope for his first professional race?
Then comes Hellas.
171.3 kilometers.
49.75 km/h average speed.
Mass sprint.
Crashes in the finale.
And suddenly this young rider from Eritrea is there at the front. Calm. Confident. Without fear.
Nahom Efriem sprints to fifth place in his very first race in Europe. Almost on the same level as the winner. Just after stepping off a plane from Asmara.
This is not a victory. And it would be completely exaggerated to describe it that way.
But what this fifth place could mean, that is what makes people dream.
Belohvoščiks swaps yellow in Benin for red in Greece
Kristiāns Belohvoščiks sprinted to third place on each of the first two stages, securing back to back podium finishes. The Latvian new signing once again confirmed his impressive shape. Only a few days earlier, he had already won the overall classification of the Tour du Bénin for BIKE AID. After a total of 863.8 kilometers, the race finally reached Athens, where Belohvoščiks wore the red jersey as the best sprinter of the race. From the yellow jersey of the Tour du Bénin overall winner to sprint king of the Tour of Hellas, the past weeks have marked the strongest period of his career so far.
With the red jersey inside the BIKE AID team, the squad once again became a focus of attention for media and spectators at a major European race.
Talent Nahom Efriem
At the same time, young Eritrean rider Nahom Efriem attracted attention during the first professional race days of his life. The 19-year-old repeatedly showed his great talent and strengthened the impression that BIKE AID may once again have discovered an exceptional rider.
Even Yemane finishes Top 20 overall
In the general classification, Oliver Mattheis in particular had hoped to play a role. However, the decisive mountain stage was shaped by rain and numerous crashes. Already on the first major climb, the race turned into a dangerous slippery battle, with several BIKE AID riders involved in crashes. Despite this, twenty-year-old Even Yemane delivered a solid performance by finishing 20th overall.
