Biniam Girmay grew up in Eritrea watching the Tour de France on TV each July with his father.
He idolized three-time world champion Peter Sagan but never dared to dream of matching the Slovakian cyclist鈥檚 exploits.
Then came Monday, when Girmay became the first Black African rider 鈥 actually the first Black cyclist from any continent 鈥 to win a Tour stage.
鈥淚 never dreamed to be part of (the) Tour de France,鈥 Girmay said after wiping away some tears.
The timing couldn鈥檛 have been better. Next year, to host cycling鈥檚 road world championships.
鈥淚t鈥檚 our moment to show our strength and our potential,鈥 Girmay said.
And to think the initial plan for Girmay鈥檚 Intermarche-Wanty team from Belgium was for the Eritrean to lead out the sprint for Belgian teammate Gerben Thijssen. But when Girmay lost touch with his teammates in the frenetic finale, which saw Mark Cavendish and others caught behind by a crash, Girmay was given the green light.
鈥淚 heard on the radio to do it for myself, because I had already lost the wheel,鈥 Girmay said. 鈥淔or me it鈥檚 always easier to find (space) myself. Then it鈥檚 just close your eyes and go for victory.鈥
Sagan, who won 12 stages in his Tour career, would have been proud of the way Girmay squirmed his way through a tiny space to edge past Fernando Gaviria 鈥 a winner of seven Grand Tour stages 鈥 at the line.
in Italy two years ago when he won a stage at the Giro d鈥橧talia to become the first Black African to take a victory in a Grand Tour. But Girmay鈥檚 Giro victory was marred when he was rushed to a hospital after getting he popped open during the podium celebration 鈥 forcing him to abandon the race.
Girmay was more careful in his celebration this time.
鈥淭his win is worth more,鈥 Girmay said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 have words to explain how important this victory is for me and for my continent.鈥
Girmay started riding in single-day races at home in Eritrea and then left home for the International Cycling Union鈥檚 development center in Aigle, Switzerland, in 2018.
In 2021, he won a silver medal in the under-23 road race at the world championships in Belgium. Then at the start of 2022, Girmay won a single-day classic at the in Belgium.
paved the way for Girmay when they became the first Eritreans to ride in the Tour de France in 2015 鈥 when to wear the King of the Mountains polka-dot jersey. They rode for the South African MTN-Qhubeka team.
Human rights groups describe Eritrea as one of the world鈥檚 most repressive countries. Since winning independence from Ethiopia three decades ago, the small Horn of Africa nation has been led by President Isaias Afwerki, who has never held an election.
Riders from only one other African country 鈥 South Africa 鈥 have won Tour stages: Robert Hunter (2007) and Daryl Impey (2019). Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome was born and raised in Kenya but represented Britain.
鈥淭his is so important for cycling,鈥 said Aike Visbeek, the performance director for Girmay鈥檚 Intermarche-Wanty team. 鈥淣ow the world can see what is possible when we give these guys a chance.鈥
And Girmay isn鈥檛 done yet.
He鈥檚 now high up in the points standings for the Tour鈥檚 green jersey that goes to the race鈥檚 top sprinter. And there are a handful more sprinting stages to come in this year鈥檚 race.
He鈥檚 just 24.
鈥淚t鈥檚 my time,鈥 Girmay said. 鈥淣ow we are really part of the big races. We have a lot victories so it鈥檚 our time, it鈥檚 our moment. I never cry, but inside I am, I just have no words.鈥
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