In a groundbreaking achievement, Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay became the first Black rider to secure a stage victory at the Tour de France on Monday. Girmay clinched his historic win in the predominantly flat third stage of the race, a moment he dedicated to the entire African continent.
“This win is for all Africans,” Girmay declared. “We must be proud now. We are really part of the big races. Now it’s our moment. It’s our time.”
Before stepping onto the podium, Girmay took a moment to acknowledge the Eritrean fans in the crowd, who waved their country’s green, red, and blue flag in celebration.
Aike Visbeek, the performance director for Girmay’s Intermarché-Wanty team, emphasized the broader significance of this victory. “There is a whole continent that has been waiting for this,” he said. “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.”
Girmay’s triumph came on a day when Mark Cavendish’s quest for a record-breaking 35th stage win was thwarted by a crash in the finale. Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz, the Olympic champion, took the yellow jersey from Tadej Pogacar, marking him as the first Ecuadorean to lead the prestigious race.
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Girmay’s historic win is not his first. Two years ago, he made headlines by winning a stage at the Giro d’Italia, becoming the first Black African rider to win a Grand Tour stage. Unfortunately, his Giro victory celebration turned sour when he was hit in the eye by a prosecco cork, forcing him to withdraw from the race. Additionally, in 2022, Girmay became the first rider from a sub-Saharan African country to win a one-day classic at the Gent-Wevelgem race.
Before Girmay, only riders from South Africa had achieved stage wins in the Tour de France: Robert Hunter in 2007 and Daryl Impey in 2019. Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome, though born and raised in Kenya, represented Britain.
The 231-kilometer leg from Piacenza to Turin, the longest stage of this year’s Tour, provided the first opportunity for a mass sprint. Girmay’s victory was clinched just ahead of Fernando Gaviria and Arnaud De Lie. Cavendish, aiming to surpass Eddy Merckx’s record of 34 wins, finished 113th after a crash involving members of the Israel-Premier Tech team but was given the same time as Girmay due to race rules neutralizing times in the final five kilometers.
Reflecting on the race, Cavendish expressed his admiration for Girmay. “That’s just massive. Cycling is massive in Eritrea. It’s super good for him and for African cycling. He’s a legend, isn’t he?” Cavendish remarked.
The stage win positions Girmay as a trailblazer in cycling, inspiring countless African riders. As the race progresses, attention now shifts to the fourth stage, a challenging mountain route that could see a shake-up in the overall standings, with Carapaz, Pogacar, and Vingegaard vying for the yellow jersey.
“Tomorrow will be a big day,” Carapaz noted. “It will be complicated. I’m going to try and give everything. I’m going to try and enjoy every single moment in the yellow jersey.”
