First times are always special. They mean dreams fulfilled. They are collapsed walls and collapsed ceilings. This is history, personal and collective. It was so for Bardet, who became the leader in Rimini for the first time in his last Tour. And for Arkea, the winner in Bologna. And Turin will always be recorded in the golden book of Eritrea and Ecuador. Biniam Girmay became the first Eritrean to take up arms in the world’s biggest cycling race. At the same time, thanks to the places, Richard Carapaz got the yellow jersey. Another milestone in the Tour of firsts.
Girmay has been knocking on the door of the cycling elite for some time. At 24, the sprinter can already boast of a victory in the Pavé Classic (Ghent-Wevelgem), a stage in the Giro and now, his confirmation, a sprint in the Tour.
claim of
“This victory was dedicated to all Africans and Eritreans. Now we are part of the big race and let’s win.’ This is our time,” Girmay said.
The longest day will have his name on it after beating great sprinters, over-the-top favourites, Belgians, Dutch and Danes, big names. The first huge arrival was not for last year’s dominant Philipsen. Nor for Cavendish, who wants to overtake Merckx. Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) was left at the gate, returning to the Tour after his only appearance in 2018, when he won two stages.
Girmay, well-positioned by the Intermarché team (in the final kilometre he entered the lead three), was fastest. Former world champion Pedersen was the first to launch the sprint, once current world champion Van der Poel suffered a breakdown and couldn’t help Philipsen. But the Eritrean eventually overtook him, and Gaviria was able to do the same. “I closed my eyes and went for it,” he said.
This was Vingegaard’s time trial to get him in great shape for the Tour
His first words after the victory were, “I want to thank God for everything.” But then tears and emotions overtook him. “Ever since I started as a cyclist, I always dreamed of joining the Tour with the big stars. He dedicated this victory to all Africans and Eritreans. Now we are part of the big race and win. It’s our moment.” He retorted, “I am very happy, it is Africa’s victory.”
Girme rose to fame in 2022 by winning the stage of the Giro that ended in Jesi. The next day he could not start because he injured his eye. But now that has become an anecdote.
In pink, in red and, now, in yellow
If Pogacar seemed upset with the yellow jersey, for Carapaz and Education First, winning it was a reward
At 31, Richard Carapaz is no newcomer. He has the Giro under his belt and is the current Olympic champion, although he will not defend his crown. He wore the Vuelta’s pink, red (in 2020) and now he also has the yellow. While Pogacar was upset with the jersey and almost let himself go, for the Ecuadorian and Education First it was candy. “It’s a dream. The Tour is the best race and I have a lot of respect for it. “I have prepared a lot to enjoy this great thing,” he explained. “It’s a very special moment for me.”
So, with the introduction of the extension of the time protection to 5 kilometers from the finish line to protect the cyclists in the general classification – until now they were the last three – from falls or punctures, the team decided to take a risk. “The first sprint is always very nervous and we knew we had a chance if we were in a good position. My teammates left me with 1 km remaining, so I could defend myself as much as possible. And with Marijn (van den Berg) we have consistently done the last. He entered fourteenth and more than 20 places behind Pogacar. The yellow one was from Ecuador.
Risk befriends Pogacar on the descent of the Galibier
