Eritrean professional cyclist Biniam Girmay, a member of the Intermarché-Wanty Team, has made history as the first African cyclist to win the Tour de France points classification. This remarkable achievement is a milestone for himself, his country, and the entire African continent.
Biniam Girmay won the Green Jersey by collecting 387 points, followed by Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin-Deceuninck with 354 points and Bryan Coquard of Cofidis with 208 points in the Green Jersey competition.
In addition to his overall win, Biniam Girmay was the stage winner of the 3rd, 8th, and 12th stages of the tour.
Upon arrival at the finishing point, Biniam received a warm welcome from all the spectators, especially from the Eritrean nationals present at the event, who chanted “Bini, Bini, Bini.”
“Wearing the green jersey is an honour, the symbol of the sprinter. This is a new dream come true.” Girmay told reporters afterwards.
“To be honest I didn’t come into this race with this ambition, I just came here to show I’m not a bad rider. I’m just grateful to have today, it’s the most amazing day of my life.”
Waving to the numerous Eritrean fans in the final kilometres of the course, a visibly emotional Girmay, who was unable at times to continue the interview he was fighting back so many tears, described his victory as “another chapter for us, you know”.
“For a long time we have been part of cycling, but to have three stage wins and the green jersey is something special. For Africa and specially for Eritrea.
“I’m just really grateful to have this jersey and want to say thank you to my nation.”
In an interview earlier in the race with L’Equipe, Girmay revealed that he had not been designated the top sprinter for his squad in the race, rather he was due to be a lead-out man for teammate and fellow fastman Gerben Thijssen.
However, in the first flat stage of the Tour into Turin, he and Thijssen had become separated and the team had told him to go for the sprint himself, leading to his breakthrough success. And as he told L’Équipe, the Tour had been his pathway to cycling, too.
“I started cycling because I watched the Tour on television, it´s as simple as that. I grew up with that, all those images, the sprints, the champions…and my dreams evolved with time.
“When you are a child you think it´s impossible to become a pro. It´s just a dream. But finally when it happens, you say it´s impossible to win a Tour stage. And that becomes a dream too. And it´s so wonderful to see your dreams come true.”
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