Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay has once again made history by winning a second stage at the Tour de France, becoming the first Black rider to do so. Girmay timed his effort perfectly in the closing sprint of Stage 8, beating his competitors Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie. The stage finished in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises, the home and final resting place of the late Charles de Gaulle.
Two-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar maintained his lead in the general classification, keeping the yellow jersey with a 33-second lead over Remco Evenepoel. The stage started with a high pace as three riders jumped out of the peloton to open a gap, with EF Education-EasyPost riders later attacking and dropping riders like Mark Cavendish.
Sunday’s stage promises to be a challenging one, with nearly 200 kilometers of gravel roads near Troyes including the iconic white roads sections. Girmay also made history in the Giro d’Italia two years ago but had to abandon the race after getting hit in the eye by a cork during the podium celebration.
Girmay’s victory adds to the growing success of African riders in Grand Tours, with only riders from South Africa previously winning Tour stages. Girmay’s success in the Tour de France and other prestigious races marks a significant milestone for African cycling.
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