Eritrean Becomes First Black African To Win Grand Tour Stage

Biniam Girmay became the first black African to win a stage of a Grand Tour

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Biniam Girmay became the first Black African to win a stage of a Grand Tour with victory in the Giro d’Italia on Tuesday.

Girmay, 22, had already made history this season, with his victory at Gent-Wevelgem in March making him the first African to win a Belgian cobbled classic, and added another landmark moment for the sport on stage 10 of the Giro in Jesi.

A lumpy finish to the 196km stage from Pescara had left the peloton in pieces with Girmay and Mathieu van der Poel the only real sprinters left and, after Girmay launched his move, Van der Poel gave up in his bid to come around the Eritrean and offered a salute as he crossed the line.

“It’s unbelievable,” Girmay said. “I thank the team. We started the race well, we controlled it. I don’t have any words for my team.” Read more.

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