Girmay show! He makes history in Jesi. With the thrill on the podium

YOU ARE. He made history. Even at the Giro. Biniam Girmay at the end of March he had won the Ghent Wevelgem, the first black runner in history, becoming the hero of Eritrea. On Tuesday 17 May in Jesi, on the streets of Michele Scarponi overflowing with crowds and emotions, he repeated himself.

«It’s an extraordinary day, I won the first stage in a great lap, it’s a memorable day for all Africans». Intoxicated with joy the 22-year-old from Intermarché (contract recently revised to one million). After a tight sprint he hit Mathieu Van der Poel (Alpecin). That shortly after the finish he raised his thumb making everyone understand unequivocally: he beat me the strongest, chapeau.

Then the embrace between the two, wonderful, to be exported. Everywhere, not just in sports. He liked the undersecretary of sport Valentina Vezzali, with his pink jacket. The champion reviewed a stage of her Giro in her city with a high density of champions after 37 years. She at the time she, she child, she went in vain to hunt for an autograph of Francesco Moser, yesterday she awarded an African runner. Thirty-seventh national winner of the Giro. Forty years ago cycling was among the few: Italians, French, Belgians, Dutch, Spaniards, at most Germans, perhaps some Irish. Already an American (LeMond, Hampsteen) was in the news. Cycling is now globalized. In Europe everyone wins by bike, in America and South America as well. Now also in Africa, thanks to a great rider. Which beat super Vdp.

Think about it, Biniam, residing in San Marino but who after the victory at Ghent Wevelgem had gone against the tide returning to his beautiful family in Africa in Asmara, giving up monuments such as the Tour of Flanders and the Paris-Roubaix, he won on the streets of Michele Scarponi. And to the champion who died in 2017 in nearby Filottrano, overflowing with love for cycling, his colleagues could not pay a better homage.

Courage, with the three Mattia Bais (Trentino of the Drone Hopper), Lawrence Naesen (Ag2r) and the revived man of escapes, the Friulian Alessandro De Marchi (Israel) – “I needed to find myself again, I’ll try again and how nice it is to pass through the village of Scarponi”, he said -, resumed 20 km from the end after 166 km of effort and hope. Explosiveness, with burst attacks on the Marche tears. Even Vincenzo Nibali (Astana) tried to leave looking for the hit to dedicate to Scarponi. Girmay, despite a “straight” downhill, did not lose sight of the Vdp Alpecin who in the meantime had eliminated the sprinters with all the big names instead, pink jersey Mr. Padro Lopez (Trek), always vigilant. Also the coach of the national football team. Roberto Mancini, another glory of the city and a good pedaler, liked it.

Then the masterpiece, the story. And also the incident on stage when he had to uncork the Prosecco. We wrote to you days ago that for some it was quite complicated. He unscrews the cap that ends up in his eye, off to the hospital, so much fear and the winner’s press conference canceled. “I don’t see anything,” he said. She got away with, thankfully. “They don’t let us go on stage to lead the athletes and these are the results”, snapped the man Astoria, the sponsor of the bubbles, Enrico Zanardo.
The Giro leaves the streets of Scarponi after having given strong emotions. The images of the parrot Frankie, Michele’s inseparable travel companion, in flight, caused a lump in my throat.
Wednesday 18 May from Sant’Arcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia, a very flat wait for a sprint. We will meet again Mark Cavendish (Quickstep)?

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