Biniam Girmay made history as the first African cyclist to win a one-day classic after triumphing in the Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.
“It’s unbelievable, amazing. I did not expect this,” said the 21-year-old Eritrean. “We just changed my plan a few days ago on Friday. We just came for a good result. This race is amazing, unbelievable.”
Breakaway and Sprint Finish
Girmay was part of a four-rider breakaway in the last 30km and sprinted to victory with 250m to go.
“This changes a lot in the future, especially for all African riders,” added the Intermarché-Wanty Gobert rider.
Jumbo-Visma’s Christophe Laporte tried to chase him down, but the Frenchman was beaten at the line.
Gent-Wevelgem: A Grueling Classic
The 248.8km Gent-Wevelgem, which features a cobbled section, is often seen as a warm-up for Belgium’s biggest race — the Tour of Flanders, the second Monument classic of the season.
“I suffered on the cobbles, it’s not exactly comfortable,” said Girmay, who was racing on cobbles for the first time. “When it came to the sprint, I knew the others were strong, but I felt confident.”
Girmay is not scheduled to take part in the Tour of Flanders.
Women’s Race and British Riders
In the women’s Gent-Wevelgem, road world champion Elisa Balsamo secured victory for Trek-Segafredo. Britain’s Pfeiffer Georgi finished 15th for Team DSM.
Higuita Wins Volta Ciclista a Catalunya
Colombia’s Sergio Higuita claimed the overall victory in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya, finishing ahead of Ecuador’s Richard Carapaz of Ineos Grenadiers.
Racing for Bora-Hansgrohe, Higuita won the green and white jersey after ending the week-long event 16 seconds ahead of Carapaz and 52 seconds clear of Portugal’s Joao Almeida of UAE-Team Emirates.
Britain’s Ethan Vernon of Quick Step-Alpha Vinyl celebrated his first-ever World Tour stage win on Friday. His teammate Andrea Bagioli of Italy won Sunday’s final stage.
The highest-placed Briton overall was Hugh Carthy of EF Education-EasyPost in 27th, finishing 18 minutes and 15 seconds down.
Health Scare for Colbrelli
The race was overshadowed by the collapse of Italian rider Sonny Colbrelli of Bahrain Victorious on stage one after an uphill sprint finish.
Colbrelli required defibrillation behind screens near the finish line before being taken to hospital in Girona. He was released on Sunday and returned to Italy for further medical tests.
