Welays Hagos BERHE – The fruit of hard work.

The season 2023 gradually launching, we went to meet an African nugget coming out of a rather successful season in hope. Welay Hagos Berhe presents his career and his perspectives next before on back to school tomorrow from coast of Valence with on new crew, la team Jayco AlUla.

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The birth of a passion

Cycling Times : Hello Welay, can you introduce yourself to our readers ?

Welay Berhe : Health, my name is Hagos Welay and I have 21 years. I am Ethiopian and I come from the Tigray region but I currently live in Switzerland.

CT : You come from a country where it is not necessarily easy to break into this sport. When did you discover cycling ? How do you describe your journey ?

WB : During my adolescence I combined two jobs in my native country : I cleaned shoes during the day and baked bread at night. I got my first bike in 2017 that I rented before I could buy it later, when I had collected enough money. Watching the Tour de France on television was a motivation. Especially seeing Chris Froome win multiple times, him the white Kenyan, an obvious symbol in the region from my city Mekelle. I said I wanted to be like Chris Froome and that's when my dream started and I set my training schedule early in the morning, because the rest of my day, I was already very busy with work.

CT : You won great national and continental races when you were a junior. You were already cycling exclusively at that time ? Did these victories add to your ambitions ?

WB : My practice of cycling was not total because I always had to work on the side. But it is obvious that these successes added to my motivation and also I started to believe in myself a lot despite the absence of an obvious opportunity..

The difficulties following his stay in Europe

CT : The rest of the adventure took place near the World Cycling Center (CMC) at the same time as the resurgence of Covid-19. Does that explain why you didn't ride with the structure ?

WB : Unfortunately in 2020, the COVID-19 indeed caused the fact that I was unable to run errands. in addition, at the summer recovery, I had planned to do the Tour de l’Avenir and the U23 World Championships which ultimately did not take place due to the pandemic.

CT : In your opinion, what is the role of this center for the runners (like you) who do not have great opportunities unlike young Europeans ?

WB : Most of the competitions taking place in Europe, the CMC is really an important support for the adaptation of runners in the tropics and to be able to do races that our federations are not necessarily able to offer us.

CT : In 2021 you sign on the side of EF Education-Nippo Development but without participating in the races with the team. Was it a difficult phase in your career ?

WB : Yes, it was the time of worries in my recent life because in addition to not being able to run I had no family contact. Due to the war in Tigray, I still have no news but I'm better now and I'm running. I really appreciate the fact that Marcelo Albasini is always by my side even now, like a father.

CT : Last season, you stay with the American structure and there, you are having a very successful season. Did you surprise yourself ? Which of your performances do you think stands out? ?

WB : Yes, it was pretty good but i would say the biggest surprises are along the way. Last year, I was rather consistent but two Italian races stand out, namely the Giro D'Aosta and the Piccolo Lombardia where I was in the winning group in particular.

The obvious excitement of racing in WT

CT : You are rewarded with a professional contract with the Jayco AlUla team. How do you approach this challenge ? have a contract of 3 years does it allow you to be more serene afterwards ?

WB : Yes it is an excellent reward because I have been fighting for this for a very long time. Since neo-pros generally only have a two-year contract, it is clear that it is great for me and now we will have to work even harder.

CT : You will join a compatriot, namely Tsagbu Grmay, great figure of Ethiopian cycling. Won't he be a natural mentor for you this year ? Isn't this the ideal way to start in the professional world? ?

WB : Clearly, I could not wish better than to have such a runner who will help me with certain realities of the professional world. Paradoxically, we just got to know each other and it's not badly positive.

CT : Your first training camp took place in December in Spain. How do you measure the atmosphere in the team ?

WB : Yes everything went well and I was able to meet the runners and the staff. The frame is set to work well and I will start my season on the Valencian Community Classic .

CT : How do you judge the development of cycling in your country which unfortunately no longer participates in the Tour of Rwanda for example ? (We want peace to return to Tigray)

WB : With the war it is very complicated to see sports federations exist, especially cycling, who is not necessarily king in Africa. Nevertheless there is for example Kiya Rogoria who had a contract with EF Education-Nippo Development team. He also went through the World Cycling Center.

CT : Can we say that the Swiss roads have no more secrets for you given the number of KOMs you have fixed? ? What is your favorite climb ?

WB : There is still a lot to discover but Morcles-Torgon remain among my favorites.

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Many thanks to Welay Berhe for the exercise. We wish him great success for the future..