Tour de France - "Incredible": Eritrean Girmay wins third Tour stage
Biniam Girmay cried after his biggest career achievement. The 24-year-old from Eritrea became the first professional cyclist from his country to win at the Tour de France. The cyclist from the Belgian Intermarché-Team, led by Augsburg's Georg Zimmermann, was speechless at the Stadio Olimpico in Turin.
"I can't believe I won at the Tour de France in my second participation", he said after the race. The devout man thanked God, dedicated the victory to his fellow countrymen and his family. "It means a lot to me, especially for the continent", he said happily.
Girmay surprised everyone by winning on the third stage, covering the 230.8 flat kilometers between Piacenza and the northern metropolis of Turin, in a hectic sprint finish against Colombian Fernando Gaviria and Belgian Arnaud De Lie. It was the first win for the Intermarché-Team. The team bus was filled with party mood. Sport director Aike Visbeek was ecstatic: "This is very important for his entire country." He hoped that through the "ambassador" Girmay, more people from his homeland would take up cycling.
Carapaz takes Yellow Jersey
Girmay wrote cycling history in the northern Italian city of Turin. The young man from Asmara, who had come to Europe from one of the poorest countries in the world to pursue his dream, had actually managed it and provided a novelty for the 111th edition. "When I started cycling, I never imagined I would participate in the Tour de France." He described his win as "unbelievable."
Girmay had come to Europe through the UCI's development program for cycling. In 2022, he had already achieved historic feats, winning the Klassiker Gent-Wevelgem and an stage at the Giro d'Italia, before unfortunately having to leave the race due to an accident during the victory ceremony, when a champagne cork got into his eye. Team colleague Zimmermann praised his colleague, who was always "good for a surprise".
A small surprise also came in the general classification. The Yellow Jersey of the leader was taken over by Richard Carapaz from superstar Tadej Pogacar. The Ecuadorian benefited from the fact that he was ahead of Pogacar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel on the sprint stage. In total, there are four riders tied in the general classification, including title defender Jonas Vingegaard and Belgian youngster Remco Evenepoel. In the determination of the leader, the cyclist who has the best placings on average comes first.
Aldag relaxed despite Roglic's time loss
Among the top four, there is currently no sign of Primoz Roglic. As expected, the shooting star of the German top team Red Bull made no big comeback to the ranks of the other top riders. The day before, the gap to his compatriot Pogacar, Vingegaard and Evenepoel had grown to 21 seconds. However, the team remained calm. "We lost some time, but we didn't lose the Tour. And that's already something", said team boss Rolf Aldag.
After two energy-draining days in Italy with high temperatures, it had cooled down by the beginning of the week. In the peloton, fewer cool packs on riders' backs and ice vests were visible. Mark Cavendish must have worked hard. On the first day, he gave in already after the start in Florence at the first climb, had to yield and managed to reach the finish line only with great effort and a delay of 39 minutes behind the French stage winner Romain Bardet.
Cavendish with mechanical issue
On the third day of the Tour, Cavendish, who wants to earn his 35th stage win and thus claim the record alone before legend Eddy Merckx, experienced another small setback. 89 kilometers before the finish, he had a mechanical problem and fell back. However, he returned to the peloton shortly thereafter, which remained largely closed throughout the race.
First, the Frenchman Fabien Grellier launched a significant attack 65.5 kilometers before the finish, grabbed the mountain points at the Cote de Sommariva Perno, and was caught back 27.8 kilometers before the end of the stage. After that, all teams focused on the mass sprint.
Philipsen and van der Poel in misfortune
The Belgian sprint king Jasper Philipsen came away empty-handed, finishing outside the top ten and missing his seventh Tour success. Philipsen's crucial helper Mathieu van der Poel, the current world champion, suffered a flat tire exactly six kilometers from the finish and could no longer provide decisive help to his teammate. German sprinter Phil Bauhaus finished sixth. Routine rider Mark Cavendish also failed to reach his desired solitary stage win record.
On Tuesday, there could be significant changes in the overall standings among the favorites Pogacar and Vingegaard. The pros will climb the 2642-meter-high Tour classic Col du Galibier. In total, there are 139.6 kilometers from Pinerolo to Valloire in the first racing kilometers in France after the start in Italy.
- Biniam Girmay, the professional cyclist from Eritrea, participated in his second Tour de France.
- Girmay's cycling team, Intermarché-Team, led by Georg Zimmermann, experienced their first-ever victory at the UCI WorldTour.
- The victory took place during a Tour stage in Turin, Italy, where Girmay outperformed Colombian Fernando Gaviria and Belgian Arnaud De Lie in a sprint finish.
- Girmay's win marked a significant achievement for Eritrea, making him the first professional cyclist from his country to claim a Tour de France stage victory.
- The cycling world has been following the journey of the devout Girmay, who came to Europe through the UCI's development program for cycling.
- Ecuadorian cyclist Richard Carapaz took over the Yellow Jersey from Tadej Pogacar, benefiting from his position ahead in the sprint stage.
- In the general classification, Carapaz, along with four other riders, including champion Jonas Vingegaard, Remco Evenepoel, and Mark Cavendish, are all tied with the best placings on average.
- Red Bull's top rider Primoz Roglic has yet to show significant signs of returning to the ranks of top competitors after a time loss during the race.
- After two challenging days in Italy, the peloton saw fewer cool packs and ice vests, as temperatures had cooled down by the beginning of the week.
- The Belgian sprint king Jasper Philipsen had to settle for a spot outside the top ten, while his teammate Mathieu van der Poel experienced a flat tire near the finish line.
- On Tuesday, pros like Pogacar and Vingegaard may face significant changes in the overall standings, with the grueling Tour classic Col du Galibier ahead in France.
