Biniam Girmay becomes the first Black African to win a stage of Tour de France

The Eritrean Biniam Girmay won the third stage of the Tour de France in a sprint finish on Monday as the Ecuadorian Richard Carapaz took the leader's yellow jersey from Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar.

Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay became the first Black African rider to win a Tour de France stage Monday when he sprinted to victory in the mostly flat third leg.

Girmay said his win was “for all Africans.”

“We must be proud now. We are really part of the big races,” Girmay said. “Now it’s our moment. It’s our time.”

Added Aike Visbeek, the performance director for Girmay’s Intermarche-Wanty team: “There is a whole continent that has been waiting for this. It’s been done now, and I hope it will open the floodgates for more riders from Africa. He’s an ambassador in every way.”

Meanwhile, Mark Cavendish’s pursuit of a record-breaking 35th stage win was postponed by a crash ahead of him in the finale, and Olympic champion Richard Carapaz took the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar — making him the first Ecuadorean to lead cycling's biggest race.

Girmay also made history in Italy two years ago when he won a stage at the Giro d’Italia to become the first Black African to take a victory in a Grand Tour, the term that encompasses the three major three-week races: the Giro, the Tour and the Spanish Vuelta.

Girmay finished just ahead of Fernando Gaviria and Arnaud De Lie.

(AP)

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