The first Black African to win a stage of Tour de France

Biniam Girmay made history by becoming the first black African to win a Tour de France stage, triumphing in the third stage of the 2024 race. The Eritrean cyclist’s victory came in a dramatic reduced sprint finish, where he outpaced Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria and Belgium’s Arnaud de Lie.

The stage, spanning 230.8 kilometers from Piacenza to Turin, was marked by a late crash that thwarted the ambitions of many riders, including the seasoned sprinter Mark Cavendish, who was vying for a record 35th stage win. Despite the chaos, Girmay remained focused and clinched the win, adding to his previous Grand Tour stage victory at the Giro d’Italia in 2022.

At the finish line, a visibly emotional Girmay, 24, expressed his gratitude and pride. “I would say thanks to God for everything, for giving me all the strength and support,” he said. “Since I started cycling, I was never dreaming to be part of the Tour de France, but now I can’t believe it. I want to say thank you to my family, my wife, Eritrea, and Africa. We must be proud. Now we are part of the big races and have success. This is for all Africa.”

Girmay’s achievement is a significant milestone for African cycling, highlighting the growing presence and potential of African riders in the global cycling arena. His win is expected to inspire many young cyclists from the continent.

Mark Cavendish, reflecting on the race’s dramatic end, expressed relief that no one was seriously injured in the crash. “Something was going to happen,” Cavendish remarked. “You could feel it, but you didn’t know where or when. Thankfully we were OK, and I don’t think anyone was seriously hurt.”

Meanwhile, Richard Carapaz of Ecuador also made history by becoming the first Ecuadorian to wear the yellow jersey, taking the overall lead based on accumulated finishing positions over the first three stages. He now leads a competitive general classification that includes Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evenepoel, and Jonas Vingegaard.

As the Tour de France progresses, the riders will face the challenging Alpine stages, starting with the fourth stage’s ascent of the mighty Col du Galibier. This segment promises to test the mettle of the competitors, with fans eagerly anticipating further dramatic turns in this prestigious race.

Girmay’s historic win is a testament to his talent and perseverance, marking a new chapter in the Tour de France’s storied history and paving the way for future African cyclists to make their mark on the global stage.

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