History: Guy Niv finished the Tour de France Israel today

The rider became the first Israeli to successfully complete the prestigious and difficult bicycle race in the industry and reached the Champs Elysees: "I went through difficult moments, which forced me to dig as deep as possible - but for one moment I did not doubt"

• Niv against the backdrop of the Victory Gate in Paris

  Photo: 

  Noa Arnon

For a small country, with a desert, a lake and a sea, a historic sporting cornerstone was added today (Sunday), one that great and modest powers have long since recorded - an Israeli rider in an Israeli team who successfully completed the Tour de France, the world's most difficult and prestigious professional road bike race.

Israel Startup Nation and Guy Niv crossed the last section of the column tonight and fulfilled a dream for thousands of riders who sat in their homes in Israel, in closure, and saw how an industry that barely existed here five years ago is slowly becoming part of the world top. 

3,484.2 km, 21 sections, tackling hail, side wind, endless hikes in the Alps, 30 riders falling on the road, moments of crisis, some Israeli flags on the side of the road and a clear goal - to finish the column successfully and if possible, enjoy the road. 

Niv made it as big.

With slender shoulders, even stronger legs and mentality that allowed him to get through all the bumps that awaited him along the way.

Anyone who abandoned his first Giro d'Italia in 2018 due to illness, was forced to remain in quarantine in Israel because of the corona and trained in the north of the country as if it were the Pyrenees, proved that the task is not big for him. 

Niv crosses the gate of victory, today // Photo: Noa Arnon 

True, Niv was not close to winning a section in the column and was far from excelling in one of them (tonight he entered an escape group for the first and last time in the column), but he proved his place there.

The place of Israelis in the prestigious platoon in the world. 

From now on, after the owners of the Sun Sylvan Adams and Ronny Brown (who did not take off their smiles for a moment today in the team's special tent at the finish line) were the ones who put Israel on the bike map, hopefully this is the opening shot for a national model that will make young riders realize Themselves the Cole de la Madeleine.

The last section was won by Sam Bennett from the Deconic Quick Step team (2: 53.32 hours) and proved that it is not for nothing that he also wears the green shirt of the column - the champion of scores and sprints.

Niv finished the last stage in 100th place and in the overall ranking he is ranked 139 out of 146 riders who survived the column.

Niv with Sylvan Adams, today // Photo: Noa Arnon 

"I was shivering"

"I went through difficult moments, which forced me to dig as deep as I could - but for a moment I had no doubt - I will come to Paris," said Niv, "now - at the finish line on the Champs Elysees I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. We did it. I'm happy."

At the end of the column he said: "I had to feel these moments. I experienced them as a spectator when I stood there, a 13-year-old boy who received a dream gift for a bar mitzvah. Now I pass the same boulevard as the first Israeli rider. I shivered even though I was used to it for the past three weeks. All this is of course a huge personal satisfaction but even more so - the belief that it will bring about change for the bicycle industry in Israel. Maybe there is now one child who saw me and the group today - and now it will be his dream. If enough children dream and want - many will follow and come To this summit and they will even move me in their achievements. "