Biniam Girmay: the first African rider to win a classic on the World Tour. © Keystone
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Published on 28.03.2022
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Cycling » Biniam Girmay (21) has written a great page in cycling history. The promising Eritrean has indeed become the first African rider to win a classic on the World Tour. The rider from the Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert team beat his three breakaway companions in the final sprint. Frenchman Christophe Laporte took 2nd place ahead of Belgians Dries Van Gestel and Jasper Stuyven. The quartet had isolated themselves in the lead shortly after the last ascent of Mount Kemmel. Girmay, who will celebrate his 22nd birthday on Saturday, had already made a name for himself during the week by finishing 5th in the E3 GP. The Eritrean was a silver medalist in the hopefuls category at the worlds last year. Under the sun, the Belgian classic could not settle in the various “mountains” despite the attacks of the Jumbo formation. Belgian champion Wout van Aert forced the pace on the third and final climb without managing to create a sufficient gap afterwards on the flat roads back to Wevelgem. ats
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