Biniam Girmay Makes History as the First Black African to win Tour de France Stage 3

Biniam Girmay, an Eritrean cyclist, etched his name in history by becoming the first Black African to win a stage at the Tour de France. His remarkable victory came during a reduced sprint finish into Turin, leaving Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria and Belgium’s Arnaud de Lie in second and third place, respectively.

The pre-race buzz centered on whether Mark Cavendish could secure a record 35th stage win. However, a crash just over 2km from the finish on the 230.8km route from Piacenza disrupted the peloton, impacting many riders, including Cavendish, who was left out of position.

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Richard Carapaz of Ecuador also made history by becoming the first from his country to wear the yellow jersey, based on accumulated finishing positions over the first three stages. Carapaz now leads the general classification alongside Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard, all tied in time with the EF Education-EasyPost rider.

Girmay’s Emotional Victory

An emotional Girmay, 24, who won his first Grand Tour stage at the Giro d’Italia in 2022, emphasised the significance of his achievement. “I thank God for giving me the strength and support. Since I started cycling, I never dreamed of being part of the Tour de France, but now I can’t believe it. I want to thank my family, my wife, Eritrea, and Africa. We must be proud. Now we are part of the big races and have success. This is for all of Africa,” Girmay stated.

I want to thank my family, my wife, Eritrea, and Africa. We must be proud. Now we are part of the big races and have success. This is for all of Africa

The Journey Ahead

The Tour now heads into the Alps, with the race taking on the formidable Col du Galibier on a mountainous 139.6km route from Pinerolo to Valloire. Girmay’s powerful late surge and strategic positioning secured him the stage 3 win, marking a historic moment for Eritrea and Africa in the world of cycling.

Strategic Moves and Victory

As the race neared its conclusion, Frenchman Fabien Grellier launched a solo attack but was caught 28 kilometers from the finish. The final kilometers saw a high-speed chase with several teams pushing hard. Despite a mechanical setback for Mathieu Van der Poel and a significant crash, Girmay’s perfectly-timed surge secured his victory by nearly a bike length.

Girmay’s win is a testament to his determination and marks a significant milestone for Eritrea and Africa in professional cycling. His triumph in Turin symbolises the resilience and potential of African athletes on the world stage, ushering in a new era of representation and success in cycling.