Biniam Girmay, a 24-year-old Eritrean from Intermarché, won the third stage of the Tour de France, 230.8 kilometers from Piacenza to Turin, the longest of the 111th edition and the last of the three scheduled entirely in Italian territory after the Florence-Rimini and the Cesenatico-Bologna. A historic success for Girmay, already capable of winning the Ghent-Wevelgem and a stage in the Giro d’Italia in his career. There was also a fall on the right side of the group, quite far in front, less than 2 kilometers from the finish. Tadej Pogacar, who took it in Bologna and chose not to defend it, is no longer in the yellow jersey for the placings game: it’s up to Richard Carapaz, the Ecuadorian from EF, winner of the 2019 Giro d’Italia, well helped in the final by teammate Alberto Bettiol. For him it is the first time in yellow in his career. In the sprint, behind Girmay, the Colombian Gaviria (Movistar) and Arnaud De Lie (Lotto), Davide Ballerini eighth.
THE NEWS
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A stage which, as expected, did not provide great shocks before the final sprint and which paid homage to Fausto Coppi, passing through Piedmont through the areas dear to the Campionissimo who won two Tours de France, in 1949 and 1952: in both cases, doing the double with the Giro d’Italia (first ever). The only one to try from afar was the Frenchman Grellier, without success. Casper Pedersen, of Soudal-Quick Step, fell at the end and then got back on the bike. And a mechanical problem for the world champion Mathieu Van der Poel, at minus 6 km, who was thus unable to help his teammate Jasper Philipsen in the sprint.
THE PROGRAM
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The Tour de France continues on Tuesday with the fourth stage, 138 kilometers starting from Pinerolo and arriving in Valloire (France): it passes through Sestriere and climbs in the finale – not the most difficult part – the Galibier, altitude 2,642 meters. The French race will end on Sunday 21 July in Nice, for the first time since 1905 away from Paris, due to the proximity to the Olympic Games that begin on the 26th with the opening ceremony in the French capital.
