Tour de France 2024: The feats of Biniam Girmay in this competition as an African

Biniam Girmay, an Eritrean cyclist from the Intermarché-Wanty team, made history by becoming the first African to win the prestigious green jersey, awarded to the best sprinter of the competition.

With three stage victories to his name, on July 1st in Turin, July 8th in Colombey-les-Deux-Églises, and July 12th in Villeneuve-sur-Lot, Girmay dominated the Tour, finishing with a 33-point lead over his rival Jasper Philipsen. These exceptional performances established him as one of the standout riders of this edition.

His achievements were enthusiastically celebrated, both by his compatriots and by the spectators of the Tour de France. At 24 years old, Biniam Girmay not only made his mark on this edition of the Tour but also put Eritrea on the global cycling map. His success symbolizes a new era for African cycling and inspires many young riders across the continent.

The 2024 Tour de France concluded on July 21st in Nice, with Tadej Pogacar crowned the overall winner, marking the 25-year-old Slovenian’s sixth victory.

Pascal Amstrong