The first black racer to win a stage in the Giro d’Italia leaves all his followers surprised following announcing that he will withdraw from the competition, following the accident he had with the cork opening the bottle of champagne and for which he injured a eye.
The Intermarché-Wanty team rider made the decision of not risking and being able to rest the eye, facing the following competitions of the year.
“I want to thank all the members of the team, they really did 99% of the work that we had prepared, we supported each other and we were there for everyone, but unfortunately I will not be at the start on Wednesday,” he said in a broadcast video. in social networks.
He assured that he is very happy to have won the stage and that when he returned from the hospital he celebrated with his team, but he cannot continue in the Giro because his eye needs to rest.
“I’m looking forward to the rest of the season, thanks to everyone for the support,” he concluded.
Meanwhile, the team also spoke up and thanked the runner for his effort. “We never expected this situation, we had a fantastic moment and soon following we lost our leader, our champion,” the team said.
However, he assured that they will go ahead with the Giro and that they will keep the morale high for the team and have a perfect Giro.
“Thank you Biniam for what you did and what you will continue to do for yourself and for our sponsor,” he concluded.
Professional since 2020, the Eritrean has 8 wins to his credit, three of them in 2022. At the end of March, he became the first African to win a classic (Ghent-Wevelgem) and this Tuesday confirmed his quality as a cyclist.
His immense joy was only tarnished by an unforeseen accident that occurred during the formal ceremony. The cap of the bottle that he shook in triumph hit him in the eye and he had to be transferred to a hospital to receive treatment.
In just a few months, the Eritrean cyclist who passed through the World Cycling Center, a structure of the International Cycling Union (UCI) to train young talent from countries with few resources, has already made a name for himself within the peloton and this Tuesday his team, Intermarche, was at his service to prepare for his arrival at the sprint.
While Van der Poel spent energy trying to counter several attacks in the final port with less than 10 km to go, Girmay always remained well positioned, but without working more than fair.
child’s dream
That port, which the peloton devoured at great speed, was the grave of the French sprinter Arnaud Démare, leader of the points classification to which Girmay also aspires following placing just three units behind the Frenchman.
Girmay, who turned professional in 2020 at French team Delko before signing for Intermarché in the spring of 2021, is contesting his first Grand Tour.
“Every day a new story is written,” Girmay said with a permanent smile on her face. “I can say that I am happy and grateful”, added the African cyclist, an idol in his country and often followed by compatriots who live in Europe in the races in which he participates.
Before the start of the Giro in Hungary, Girmay highlighted what the Italian race meant for the Eritreans because of the common past between both countries, since Eritrea was a colony of Italy from the end of the 19th century to the middle of the 20th.
“As a child, I watched the Giro d’Italia on television with my friends. He used to ride his bike and dreamed of being able to participate one day, ”explained a Girmay who set a stage victory as his goal.