Biniam Girmay shines with third stage win in 2024 Tour de France
Biniam Girmay has brought glory to Africa in the 2024 Tour de France, securing another stage victory on Thursday.
Following the intense battle between Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard in the mountains of Cantal, the 12th stage on July 11 took the riders on flatter terrain from Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot, favoring sprinters like Girmay.
The Eritrean cyclist triumphed in the sprint, claiming his third stage win. He edged out competitors Wout van Aert and Arnaud Démare.
This victory solidified his lead in the points classification, ensuring he keeps the green jersey.
Reflecting on his success, Girmay expressed disbelief at winning three stages in a single Tour, attributing his victory to perfect conditions and his remaining strength.
Girmay’s achievement makes him the 15th rider in the 21st century to win at least three stages in one Tour de France, joining a prestigious list including Cavendish, Nibali, and Froome.
Meanwhile, Tadej Pogacar maintained his overall lead, holding the yellow jersey with a 1:06 lead over Remco Evenepoel and 1:14 over Jonas Vingegaard.
A crash affected Primoz Roglic, dropping him to sixth place in the general classification.
The stage also saw the withdrawals of Fabio Jakobsen and Pello Bilbao. The upcoming 13th stage from Agen to Pau on Friday presents one of the final chances for sprinters before the race heads into the high mountains over the weekend.
