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Biniam Girmay is the first Eritrean to win a stage at the 105th Giro d'Italia
Photo: Massimo Paolone/AP
Biniam Girmay wrote another piece of cycling history at the 105th Giro d'Italia.
About a month and a half after his surprise victory in the Belgian classic Gent-Wevelgem, the 22-year-old was the first Eritrean to win a stage in one of the three major national tours on Tuesday.
After 196 kilometers over undulating terrain from Pescara to Jesi, Girmay was able to assert himself in the sprint confidently against the Dutch winner of the opening round, Mathieu van der Poel.
“We controlled the race and I have to thank my team.
Everyone did a great job.
I'm so happy," said Girmay, who rides for the Belgian team Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert, after his second coup in cycling year 2022.
The leader's pink jersey was again successfully defended by the Spaniard Juan Pedro Lopez and leads by twelve seconds ahead of the Portuguese João Almeida.
Ravensburger Emanuel Buchmann, 69 seconds behind, is still the best German in ninth place.
The sprinters should get their money's worth on the eleventh stage on Wednesday.
The section from Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia runs over 203 kilometers and has no mountain classification.
The Tour of Italy 2022 ends on May 29th with an individual time trial in Verona.
see/dpa