“I realize I’m writing history here, but it’s only because of my team and family,” said the first black winner of the stage on the Gira, who followed Alan van Heerden of South Africa in 1979 as the second African to finish. Girmay’s teammate Jan Hirt, who worked at the head of the peloton for the later winner in the last kilometers, also came to the group last. The Czech cyclist thus defended the 14th place in the standings. He continues to lose 3:09 minutes on López.
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Girmay has been racing professionally since 2020 and has had eight victories so far. He rejoiced three times this season, celebrating his biggest triumph at the end of March, when he was the first African to win a classic with Geng-Wevelgem and scored the first success of his career at WorldTour. He also confirmed the sprint form on Tuesday, when his finish was appreciated by the defeated Van der Poel with a thumbs-up when passing the finish line.
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The final spurt was helped by Girmay and his teammate and eighth man in the overall standings, Domenico Pozzovivo. “I came to the Giro with the determination to win the stage. Everyone on the team was pulling for me today, even the riders in the overall standings, Domenico Pozzovivo was amazing at the end,” Girmay said after the finish.
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But the joy of winning the premiere participation in Gir was then ruined by Girmay’s unfortunate accident on the podium. When he opened the bottle of champagne, a cork hit him in the eye and, according to media reports, he had to be taken to hospital for treatment.
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On Wednesday, a flat 203 km long stage awaits from Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia. So the spurtors should get a chance again.
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| Giro d’Italia – 10. etapa (Pescara – Jesi, 196 km): |
|---|
| 1. Girmay (Eri./Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) 4:32:07 |
| 2. Van der Poel (Niz./Alpecin-Fenix) |
| 3. Albanese (It./EOLO-Kometa) |
| 4. Cellarman (Niz./Bora-hansgrohe) |
| 5. Carapaz (Ekv./Ineos Grenadiers) |
| 6. Bouwman (Niz./Jumbo-Visma) |
| 7. Bardet (Fr./DSM) |
| 8. Bilbao (Sp. / Bahrain Victorious) |
| 9. Almeida (Portuguese/SAE Team Emirates) |
| 10. Schmid (Švýc./Quick-Step-Alpha Vinyl), |
| … 28. Hirt (Czech Republic / Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) all the same time. |
| Running order: |
| 1. López (Šp. / Trek-Segafredo) 42:24:08 |
| 2. Almeida -12 |
| Bardet -14 |
| 4. Carapaz -15 |
| 5. Hindley (Austr./Bora-hansgrohe) -20 |
| 6. Martin (Fr./Cofidis) -28 |
| 7. Landa (Sp. / Bahrain Victorious) -29 |
| 8. Pozzovivo (It./Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert) -54 |
| 9. Buchmann (Germany / Bora-Hansgrohe) -1: 09 |
| 10. Bilbao (Sp. / Bahrain Victorious) -1: 22, |
| …14. Hirt -3:09. |
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