The revolution on the pedals. His name is Biniam Girmay, 22, Eritrean from Asmara, Italian by adoption, he trains with us: first in Lucca, then in San Marino. His story is an incredible story, it seems written by a screenwriter who struggles to find one twist after another. And therefore: among the general surprise Girmay on Tuesday wins the stage of Jesi, the tenth of the Giro d’Italia. Victory in the sprint, with colleague Mathieu Van der Poel who lets him parade: “Go, you deserve it.” Kisses and hugs at the finish line, great enthusiasm.
Girmay goes to the podium, as usual cyclists do. Is happy, he knows he has written a page of history, he takes the bottle of Astoria sparkling wine in his hand, opens it, the cork leaves, but hits it in the left eye. General panic. Girmay brings his hand to his colored eye, collapses, struggles to focus for a few minutes, he says he doesn’t see us anymore. The medical staff of the Giro decides that it is better to take him to the hospital in Jesi for checks. After the visit Girmay reaches the hotel in Riccione where the rest of the team is. Great is the concern. The examination reports arrive: the eye has not suffered major trauma, but doctors advise caution. Reluctantly Biniam Girmay and his staff make the most difficult decision. No Giro. The withdrawal was made official this morning. His run stops here.
Yet his is a race that began about ten years ago. Girmay is a missed footballer. The first sport he practiced was that: chasing a ball. Then his father realized that maybe he would have more fun on the bike, so he gave it to him, encouraging him to get on it. First races at eleven, first significant victories at thirteen. He is 17 when they notice him. A proposal arrives from Switzerland: come and do an internship with us. He goes there, he gets bored, he gets angry: he doesn’t speak English, he feels like he’s in a circus. But he learns that the world – outside Asmara – spins at double speed. And then you have to run faster. There he began his climb to glory.
It doesn’t come out of nowhere. Hero, yes, but not for a day. In March he was the first African to win a Classic, the Ghent-Wevelgem, in spite of Flanders and those who think it’s just their thing (Belgians and Dutch). This time he celebrated in a big way. Four days of celebration in Asmara, suffocated by the embrace of relatives and friends. This year he achieved good results: fifth place at E3 Harelbeke and twelfth at Milan Sanremo. He also touched the pink jersey and he won a historic stage: he is the second African cyclist (and the first black) to win a stage of the Giro d’Italia after the South African Alan van Heerden in 1979. It is a revolution. And it won’t be a cork to stop it.
– World Cup without Italy, who to cheer for?
– Sonny Colbrelli, who is the cyclist who won the Paris-Roubaix
Source: Vanity Fair
