Eritrean Biniam Girmay won the 10th stage of the Giro on Tuesday in Jesi. A historic success. This is the first success of a rider from his country in a Grand Tour. Girmay, of Belgian team Intermarché, sprinted ahead of Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel, who gave a thumbs up as he crossed the line to salute the performance of the young African. Girmay, 22, is taking part in the Giro for the first time in his career.
Professional since 2020, he has 8 victories to his name, including three for the current year alone. At the end of March, he became the first African to win a classic (Ghent-Wevelgem). This great victory was unfortunately tarnished by an unforeseen accident that occurred during the award ceremony. Girmay suffered an eye injury from the cork of a bottle he had just shaken and had to go to hospital for treatment.
His participation following the Giro could be called into question. His team was to give news in the evening. “Every day we write a new story, had had time to react before that Girmay, his face always smiling. I can say that I am happy and grateful. »
New sprint in sight on Wednesday
During this hot day, the Giro paid tribute to one of its former winners, Michele Scarponi (winner in 2011 after the downgrading of Spaniard Alberto Contador), who died five years ago after being knocked down in training by a truck. The race moved to Filottrano, the town of the Italian runner whose giant portrait was displayed on the walls of the town centre.
On Wednesday, the 11th stage presents a rigorously flat profile from Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia, on an often straight course of 203 kilometers. The sprinters have a first-rate chance at the end of a 350-meter straight in the town of Emilia where Fernando Gaviria won in 2017 during the previous Giro finish.