July 06, (THEWILL) – Biniam Girmay of Eritrea claimed his second victory in the 2024 Tour de France, winning the challenging eighth stage from Semur-en-Auxois. The 24-year-old Intermarche-Wanty rider timed his sprint perfectly in the final stretch of the 183.4-kilometre ride, overtaking Belgium’s Jasper Philipsen to cross the finish line first.
Girmay’s victory marks another historic moment for African cycling, following his groundbreaking win in stage three when he became the first Black African to triumph in the Tour de France stage. Belgian cyclist Arnaud De Lie rounded out the podium in third place, while Philipsen, who won four stages in last year’s Tour, continues to search for his first victory in this year’s race.
Despite the day’s excitement, Slovenian cyclist Tadej Pogacar maintained his grip on the overall leader’s yellow jersey. The UAE Emirates rider leads Belgian Remco Evenepoel by 33 seconds in the general classification. Both cyclists are now preparing for a potentially treacherous ninth stage, which features 14 gravel sections around Troyes.
Pogacar expressed anticipation for the upcoming challenge, stating: “I cannot wait to be there. It’s not the funniest stage, but I think I’m ready. I like this kind of stage.” The Slovenian’s confidence stems from his victory in the Strade Bianche classic earlier this season, where he demonstrated his proficiency on similar terrain.
The upcoming gravel stage promises to be a pivotal moment in the race, potentially reshaping the overall standings and testing the riders’ skills on unfamiliar ground.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
