2024 Tour de France Stage 8 | Highlights
Report
Biniam Girmay (Intermarché-Wanty) continued his remarkable Tour de France campaign with a second sprint victory on stage 8, conquering a chaotic uphill finish in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises. This win makes Girmay the first rider to secure two stage victories in this year’s Tour.
The Eritrean cyclist, who made history on stage 3 as the first black African rider to win a Tour de France stage, once again demonstrated his sprinting prowess. Wearing the green jersey, Girmay outpaced Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck), who had to settle for second place, and Arnaud de Lie (Lotto-Dstny), who finished third.
Despite the wet and challenging conditions, Girmay managed to secure 50 points for the stage win, adding to his second-place finish in the intermediate sprint. This performance has given him a commanding 88-point lead in the green jersey standings.
The 183km route, which included several categorized climbs, initially seemed ideal for a breakaway. Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X-Mobility) made a valiant solo effort, escaping early with Neilson Powless and Stefan Bissegger (EF Education-EasyPost). However, Abrahamsen was eventually caught with 15km to go, setting the stage for a bunch sprint.
Reflecting on his victory, Girmay said, “It’s unbelievable. To win two times, I have to say thanks to God for everything. This victory I need to give to my mother and father, they believed in me and gave me all the support to become a professional cyclist. I’m so proud.”
Girmay’s success was a result of perfect positioning and a strong leadout from his team. He acknowledged the support of his teammates and the ideal conditions for his sprinting style, saying, “I prefer this kind of sprint, because if it’s really flat, the other guys are bigger and heavier than me so they can push more watts and go faster. But this finish for me, with my weight, was super nice.”
As the Tour progresses, Girmay’s impressive performances continue to captivate fans and inspire fellow cyclists, marking a significant milestone in his career and for African cycling.
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