Biniam Girmay has been one of the revelations of this cycling season, becoming the first African to win a one-day Classic, and then the first Black African to win a stage of a Grand Tour. 

That win, at the Giro d’Italia, made international headlines. Very soon after, there were more headlines: on the podium, the cork of the celebratory sparkling wine bottle popped into his eye, sending him out of the race. 

Girmay returned to Eritrea to recover, and is now gearing up for a return to racing. Today, he posted a picture on his Instagram stories of a training ride café stop which had several interesting details. 

Right of frame: a good looking berry tart, lightly dusted with icing sugar, sliced with a spork but as yet untasted. 

Centre of frame: a coffee, with cream. A man after my own heart. Small biscuit alongside. 

Left of frame: Girmay’s new helmet. Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux, Girmay’s team, is sponsored by the Czech helmet brand Force, and Girmay tends to favour the aerodynamic Orca model. This one has a special custom design that is riffing on his infamous Giro exit. A pugilistic cork explodes across the side of the helmet, angry-faced, with boxing gloves on. 

With this helmet, we hope, Biniam Girmay will be back fighting for wins again soon.