Eritrea’s Biniam Girmay has made history becoming the first black African to win a stage at the prestigious Tour de France after his triumph on stage 3 today.
Following a crush over 2km to the finish line, the African top rider rode to victory, with Colombia’s Fernando Gaviria and Belgium’s Arnaud de Lie taking second and third place respectively.
Girmay dedicated his victory to “for all Africans.”
“We must be proud now. We are really part of the big races,” Girmay said. “Now it’s our moment. It’s our time.”
It will be recalled that Girmay similarly became the first Black African to win a stage at the Giro d’Italia two years ago after claiming victory in the Grand Tour – the term that encompasses the three major three-week races: the Giro, the Tour and the Spanish Vuelta.
Meanwhile, Olympic champion Richard Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian to wear the yellow jersey based on accumulated finishing positions over the first three stages.
