TOUR DE FRANCE | 01/07/2024 | 19:13
by Francesca Monzone
Africa has definitely entered the world of cycling thanks to the success achieved today by Biniam Girmay, the first black African to win a stage at the Tour de FranceNext year, the Cycling World Championships will be held in Africa and this continent will also be able to boast a stage victory at the Tour de France, marking a gap between Europe and Africa that was definitively broken down today in Turin.
«I am in disbelief, I really can’t believe what happened – said Girmay after the finish line -. I didn’t think I could win today against the strongest sprinters in the world”. Girmay has grown and, after having won a stage at the Giro d’Italia in 2021, now in his palmares there is also a victory at the Grande Boucle. The Eritrean was very excited not only for his personal success, but also for having written one of the most important pages in the history of his country’s sport.
«Since I started cycling I have always dreamed of being able to participate in the Tour de France, but now I can’t believe it, I won a stage of the Tour in my second participation in a very difficult bunch sprint”.
Girmay was clever in the final part of the third stage, because he managed to pass by touching the barriers and avoiding contact with the other riders. “It’s not easy when you do a bunch sprint like today. I passed close to the barriers and when I did I closed my eyes and went straight. You have to have maximum confidence in yourself to do a sprint like that.”
For the Eritrean runner, this victory is dedicated to all his people, who can now head towards the most important sporting goals with their heads held high.
«Our moment has finally come and that of all of Africa, because This victory is also for my entire country. I want to thank my family, my wife and all Africans, we should be proud, Now we are protagonists of the most important competitions in the worldo, this is our moment, our hour. I also want to thank my entire team, because we had never won this race, but we did it and I’m super happy.”
Today Girmay wasn’t supposed to sprint, because for this kind of finish Intermaché Wanty usually relies on Thijssen. “We usually rely on Gerben, while in the more difficult finishes I’m there. In the last kilometer I lost Gerben’s wheel, so I went ahead alone and it went well. It’s incredible that I won against the strongest sprinters in the world.”
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