A great happiness, then an improbable story.
On Tuesday, Biniam Girmay entered more cycling history by becoming the first black African to win a stage of a grand tour by winning the Giro in a strong man.
Winner in the sprint ahead of the Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel in the streets of Jesi, the Eritrean from the Intermarché-Wanty Gobert team was forced to skip the mixed zone and the press conference in the wake of his success.
The reason ?
An incident that occurred during the protocol ceremony.
The 22-year-old rider, winner of the Belgian classic Ghent-Wevelgem in March, was injured while uncorking the traditional bottle of Prosecco on the podium.
On a video, we see Biniam Girmay, leaning over the bottle, suddenly holding the left side of his head as the cork squirts.
The Eritrean was then taken to hospital for check-ups.
According to L'Equipe, Mathieu van der Poel almost suffered the same incident when he donned the pink jersey of leader of the Italian race.
🚨 ÚLTIMA HORA |
Eritrea conquered Italia
💥 Girmay ganador de la stage 10 del @giroditalia, trasladado al hospital tras dañarse un ojo Durante la celebración de su victoria
⚠️ Se ha golpeado con el corcho de la botella en el pódium
🎙️ @BorjaCuadrado pic.twitter.com/zecKuqJURm
— Carrusel Deportivo (@carrusel) May 17, 2022
“The whole team pushed very hard, they did a great job, he had previously reacted to the microphone of Eurosport, broadcaster of the event in France.
Since the start of this Giro, we have had opportunities to win.
Every day my teammates work for me and I am very grateful.
»
Often celebrated by emigrant compatriots in Europe at the start and finish of the races, Girmay had insisted before the departure from Hungary on the particularity that the Tour of Italy has for Eritrea, because of the colonial links dating from the end of the 19th century. and in the first half of the 20th century.
“As a child, I watched the Giro d'Italia on television with my friends.
I went out cycling with the dream of one day being able to take part in a Grand Tour,” the Eritrean told us before the start.
Here he entered the history of the race.
Prosecco or not.