A great first for Africa. This Sunday, Biniam Girmay settled his group of four breakaways in a sprint to afford Ghent-Wevelgem and thus become the first cyclist from his continent to win a classic World Tour. The Eritrean from Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert, only 21 years old and a great hope of world cycling, maneuvered perfectly in the final and beat Frenchman Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), who continues to accumulate places of honor this season. .
Van Aert closely marked
In demonstration in recent weeks and easy winner of the E3 GP on Friday, Wout Van Aert was obviously the attraction of the day. The leader of the Jumbo-Visma, well supported by his teammates, tried to animate the race and seemed the strongest in the various difficulties which enamelled the course. He even believed for a time in victory, when he was lonely in the lead in the Kemmelberg, 30kms from the goal.
But the Belgian failed to take a following lead and was quickly swallowed up by his pursuers. Then followed a series of counterattacks, before the start of the good shot, initiated by Laporte. Accompanied by Jasper Stuyven, Dries Van Gestel and the winner of the day, the Frenchman made the hole, without the peloton managing to agree to catch up with them. The final victory was therefore decided in the sprint between the quartet and was settled by Girmay, who made his burst of speed speak by throwing the 300 meters.
One more hope
On a Belgian classic which has continued to gain importance on the calendar in recent years, it is obviously the greatest success of the Eritrean’s career. Vice-champion of the world hopes last season, he had accumulated good results since the start of the season, finishing in particular 5th at the GP E3. “I changed my program a few days ago, I came here to get good results but I didn’t expect that, it’s incredible,” he confided on arrival.
“It will change everything for me, he continued. I hope it will open up lots of future prospects for African runners. “For his part, Laporte, inevitably more disappointed, regretted having “missed a big opportunity like that on a Flandrian classic”. All the more frustrating that he had to leave the victory to his leader Van Aert at E3, earlier in the week.
If Girmay will now take a little rest, most of the protagonists of the day will set foot in the stirrup again next week, to complete their Flandrian campaign. Wednesday, Through Flanders will serve as an aperitif, with Tadej Pogacar as star guest, before the main course: the Tour of Flanders, the second monument of the season, on Sunday. A race for which Van Aert should, once again, be marked very closely.