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Biniam Girmay writes Tour de France history

  • Ron 

Biniam Girmay won the third stage of the 2024 Tour de France in Turin and offered Intermarché-Wanty its first historic success on the Grande Boucle.

This is a historic victory for Jean-François Bourlart’s team, who are taking part in the world’s most prestigious cycling race for the seventh time, but more importantly for Girmay, becomes the first rider from black Africa to win a stage in the Tour de France, and thus makes cycling history with Intermarché-Wanty after his resounding successes in Ghent-Wevelgem and the Giro d’Italia.

United around Biniam Girmay and Gerben Thijssen, the Belgian team mastered the final stretch. Positioned by Georg Zimmermann at the start of the last 10 kilometers, launchers Hugo Page, Laurenz Rex and Mike Teunissen then took control in the final kilometers. The Intermarché-Wanty train, spearheaded by Thijssen, launched the sprint through the streets of Turin. Along the barriers, on the right-hand side of the road, Girmay emerged from Mads Pedersen’s wheel to win after a final 200-meter effort.

“This is a historic day, I’m so happy for myself, for my Intermarché-Wanty team, but also for my country and my continent. Ever since I was a child, taking part in the Tour de France was a dream, almost unhoped-for. Winning the Tour de France is so incredible, especially in such a competitive sprint,” Girmay said after the stage. “I’d like to thank my team, in particular Jean-François Bourlart who dreamed of this Tour victory, my family, all my compatriots and all those who supported me. We can be proud of this victory. We’ve shown that we can take part in the big races and win. Our time has come. Today, we showed that the Intermarché-Wanty team had the best sprint train in the pack. The plan was to prepare the final sprint for Gerben Thijssen, with me as a free electron. I followed the train and then snuck in to play my card. Finally, I closed my eyes and gave it my all to win. My joy is indescribable.”

With this victory, the tenth in 2024, Intermarché-Wanty completes its trilogy of Grand Tour victories, following those of Taco van der Hoorn, Girmay and Jan Hirt in the Giro, and Rein Taaramäe, Louis Meintjes and Rui Costa in the Vuelta.

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