The Eritrean Biniam Girmay enters the history of the Giro d'Italia

Eritrean Biniam Girmay (Intermarché) won the 10th stage of the Giro on Tuesday in Jesi (center-east), signing the first success of a rider from his country in a Grand Tour.

REUTERS - JENNIFER LORENZINI

Text by: Farid Achache Follow

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Biniam Girmay (Intermarché) won the 10th stage of the Giro, this Tuesday, May 17, in Jesi (center-east), signing the first success of a rider from sub-Saharan Africa in a Grand Tour.

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He had announced that he wanted to be the first black African rider to win a grand tour.

This Tuesday, May 17, Biniam Girmay went after his dream on Italian roads.

He sprinted ahead of Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, who gave a thumbs up as he crossed the line to salute the performance of the young African.  

Girmay, 22, is taking part in the Giro for the first time in his career.

Professional since 2020, he has 8 victories to his name, including three for the current year alone.

At the end of March, he became

(Ghent-Wevelgem).

Since the start of the Giro, Girmay has always been well placed in the final stages arriving in a sprint.

He had even been second during the very first stage of the 105th edition behind Mathieu van der Poel.

Juan Pedro Lopez always in pink

In the general classification, the Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez (Trek) kept the leader's pink jersey acquired the previous Tuesday on Etna.

The Italian Alessandro de Marchi, who had escaped with two companions (Davide Bais and Lawrence Naesen), led the way until the last 20 kilometers.

Australian Caleb Ewan, whose team worked to limit the breakaway lead, and Briton Mark Cavendish were left behind before the final hour.

For his part,

(twice stage winner on this edition) let go on the last climb, about ten kilometers from the finish, in a very lively final with many starts.

Today, Girmay has not missed this chance, that of entering even more into the history of cycling.

Twice, in 2020 and 2021, he was voted best African cyclist of the year.

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