"Biniam Girmay - making history" is a phrase that has been used so often in pro cycling circles over the past few years that one would think it was the full name of this Eritrean rider.

But the headline, which was also used when he won the silver medal at the 2021 Leuven World Championships and when he dominated victories in Ghent-Wevelgem and Giro d'Italia Jesi the following year, will be recycled again this week. Gil May, the first black African to win a stage in the Tour de France, followed up this "first."

Gilmey was in Abruzzo on the other side of the country when he became Eritrea's first Grand Tour winner in the Giro. On Monday, in Turin, 500 km northwest, he took his first Tour de France stage win ahead of Fernando Gaviria and Arnaud de Lier. [But this is not the first time an Eritrean has stood on the Tour de France podium: nine years ago, five days after becoming the first black African to start the Tour, Daniel Teklehaimano wore the polka-dot jersey in Le Havre.

After his victory in Turin, Girmay said Teclehaimano's feat showed him and other young Eritreans that it is possible to succeed at the highest levels of the sport.

"My father loved watching the Tour de France so much that he always told me to turn on the TV after lunch to watch it. He taught me how the Tour de France works and how difficult it is, and I remember when Peter Sagan won in 2011, I said, 'Maybe I can do that too,' and my father said, 'Keep believing, keep trying, everything is possible.' This is still in my mind.

"In 2015, when Teclehaimano put on the polka dot jersey and got on the podium, everything changed. He showed me that everything is possible and that you can win a stage. Especially for an African rider."

Teklehaimano became the first Eritrean professional racer when he signed with Orica GreenEdge in 2012. Since then, others such as Natnael Berhane and Melhawi Kudus have continued to pave the way for Eritrean cycling, and Girmay is now paired with Henok Murbran (Astana Kazakstan), Lidl Trek pair Amanuel Gebregxavier and Natnael Tesfatzion, together with the world tour.

Girmay, however, has been the most successful of them all. And as with his comments after achieving these historic feats, the 24-year-old did not forget to honor not only his own country, but the wider African continent as well.

"It means a lot to me personally. It's been a long time since a black African rider has not won the Tour de France. It means a lot, especially for Eritrean cycling. It means a lot, especially for Eritrean cycling. We have a long history of cycling. [I remember when I won the Giro, a lot of people threw bottles and tables down, saying they were watching the race in a bar.

"I think today is already crazy, to be honest. I can't even imagine. I have so much support and so many people motivating me. But there are no words to describe it right now. For sure, I'm already on fire."

Aside from the broad relevance and consequences of Gilmey's latest big win, there was also the sporting aspect. [21] Not only was he among a group of sprinters who avoided the peloton's crash with 2.8 km to go, but he was also cut off from the lead group of Intermarque Wanty as the riders sprinted toward the center of Turin.

In the front, Lawrence Rex, Mike Tunissen, and Gerben Theisen lead the pack, with the pair of Paul Lapeira and Sam Bennett of Decathlon AG2R and the sprint duo of Jasper Steiven and Mads Pedersen of Lidl Trek one by one

De Lier and Gaviria were competing in the middle of the race, and De Lier made a long jump at the 200m mark. De Lier and Gaviria were trading places in the middle of the field.

He passed Pedersen with 50m to go and celebrated his victory by a bike length.

"I remember closing my eyes in the last kilometer and trying to get the best wheel possible because I had lost a teammate.

"I found the right wheel and made a smart move. I didn't go to the left side because it was windy and I ran close to the barrier.

"I passed Pedersen on the right side right by the barrier. I just closed my eyes and did my best.

The win was one of many firsts for Gilmey, for Black African, and for his team, which has been nearly unstoppable since its debut in 2017.

The Belgian team went into the race with the goal of a stage win and a top 10 overall finish with climber Louis Meintjes. Currently 33rd overall, the South Africans' quest begins on Tuesday at the Col du Galibier, but thanks to Gil May they have already achieved one of their ambitions on day three.

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