Eritrea's Biniam Girmay has made history once more by securing his second victory at the Tour de France. Girmay showcased impeccable timing and strategy in the final straight of the eighth stage, a grueling 183.4-kilometer ride from Semur-en-Auxois on Saturday.
Girmay, who previously became the first Black African to win a Tour stage, seized the moment to overtake Belgium's Jasper Philipsen, earning his Intermarche-Wanty team their second win in this prestigious race. Another Belgian, Arnaud De Lie, finished in third place.
\"Winning another stage is huge,\" Girmay expressed. \"I did not feel great at the beginning of the stage because of the rain and cold, but my feelings improved during the day. I liked this slightly uphill finish because the heavier sprinters cannot really compete.\"
The victory adds to Girmay's growing legacy in the cycling world, while Philipsen continues to strive for his first podium moment this year after a successful campaign last season.
In the overall standings, Slovenia's Tadej Pogacar retains the yellow jersey, maintaining his lead over Belgium's Remco Evenepoel by 33 seconds. Pogacar, a two-time Tour de France champion, is gearing up for the challenging ninth stage, which features 14 gravel sections around Troyes.
\"I checked it out and it's an interesting stage where a lot of things can happen, I think it's going to be chaotic,\" Pogacar commented. Despite the treacherous terrain, he remains optimistic and eager for the challenge.
Evenepoel, who triumphed in Friday's individual time trial, acknowledges the risks of the upcoming gravel roads. \"I don't think you can win the Tour on that stage, but you can definitely lose it,\" he stated. Nevertheless, Pogacar is prepared to tackle the stage head-on, drawing from his experience and recent victory at the Strade Bianche classic.
The excitement builds as the peloton approaches one of the most demanding phases of the Tour, promising intense competition and unforgettable moments for cycling fans worldwide.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
