Girmay became the first black rider in Africa to win a grand tour stage on Tuesday.

But when celebrating his historic success on the ceremonial podium of Jesi (center-east), the young 22-year-old Eritrean accidentally received in the eye the cap of the giant bottle he was to open.

Treated at the Jesi hospital, in an excellent way according to the doctor of his Intermarché training, he joined in the early evening the hotel of his Intermarché team in Riccione where a small party was organized in his honor.

The Belgian team had chosen to wait until the morning to make a decision on the continuation of the Giro for its African nugget.

In the entourage of the team, it is indicated that the choice to abandon the race was taken out of prudence.

Further eye examinations are planned in the short term for Girmay, who left the hotel on Wednesday morning with his manager after greeting teammates and staff.

"The examinations revealed lesions in the left eye, which require the greatest precaution and rest", specified the Belgian team.

“Avoid intensive activities”

His doctor Piet Daneels clarified that "the examinations revealed a haemorrhage in the anterior chamber of the left eye of Biniam Girmay".

Biniam Girmay on March 27, 2022 during his victory in the Ghent-Wevelgem classic KURT DESPLENTER BELGA/AFP/Archives

"The evolution of his injury is going in the right direction," he added.

"In order to minimize the risk of hemorrhagic expansion and intraocular pressure, it is strongly recommended to avoid intensive activities. Our priority is a full recovery from the injury and that is why we have decided, in consultation with the rider and the sports management, that Biniam would not show up at the start of the eleventh stage."

In a few months, Girmay has become one of the big names in the international peloton.

The first African runner to put his name on the list of winners of a classic (Ghent-Wevelgem at the end of March), notably beating Frenchman Christophe Laporte, he established himself among the best sprinters/punchers.

Second in the opening stage of the Giro in Hungary behind Mathieu van der Poel, he dominated the Dutchman in a long sprint at the finish of the 10th stage in Jesi.

Mathieu van der Poel (right) raises his thumb while Biniam Girmay, too powerful for him, won on May 17, 2022 at the finish line of the 120th stage of the Grio, in Jesi Luca Bettini AFP / Archives

In the points classification, he thus came within three points of the wearer of the cyclamen jersey for the best sprinter, the Frenchman Arnaud Démare.

On the line, van der Poel gave a thumbs up in respect before congratulating his winner.

The Dutchman had also almost been the victim of a capricious traffic jam during the official ceremony which followed his stage success.

But he had received it on the shoulder, without the injury taking on the same seriousness as for the Eritrean.

Girmay, who joined the Intermarché team in the spring of 2021 after turning professional the previous year with the French team Delko, had made a name for himself last season by winning the silver medal in the Worlds hopes race in Louvain. (Belgium).

The 11th stage of the Giro, 203 kilometers long and designed for sprinters, leads from Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia.

© 2022 AFP