'It's our moment.' Girmay's Tour de France breakthrough comes as the cycling worlds head to Africa

Biniam Girmay grew up in Eritrea watching the Tour de France on TV each July with his father.

He idolized three-time world champion Peter Sagan but never dared to dream of matching the Slovakian cyclist’s exploits.

Then came Monday, when Girmay became the first Black African rider — actually the first Black cyclist from any continent — to win a Tour stage.

“I never dreamed to be part of (the) Tour de France,” Girmay said after wiping away some tears.

The timing couldn’t have been better. Next year, Rwanda will become the first African country to host cycling’s road world championships.

“It’s our moment to show our strength and our potential,” Girmay said.

And to think the initial plan for Girmay’s Intermarche-Wanty team from Belgium was for the Eritrean to lead out the sprint for Belgian teammate Gerben Thijssen. But when Girmay lost touch with his teammates in the frenetic finale, which saw Mark Cavendish and others caught behind by a crash, Girmay was given the green light.

“I heard on the radio to do it for myself, because I had already lost the wheel,” Girmay said. “For me it’s always easier to find (space) myself. Then it’s just close your eyes and go for victory.”

Sagan, who won 12 stages in his Tour career, would have been proud of the way Girmay squirmed his way through a tiny space to edge past Fernando Gaviria — a winner of seven Grand Tour stages — at the line.

Girmay also made history in Italy two years ago when he won a stage at the Giro d’Italia to become the first Black African to take a victory in a Grand Tour. But Girmay’s Giro victory was marred when he was rushed to a hospital after getting hit in the left eye by a prosecco cork he popped open during the podium celebration — forcing him to abandon the race.

Girmay was more careful in his celebration this time.

“This win is worth more,” Girmay said. “I don’t have words to explain how important this victory is for me and for my continent.”

Girmay started riding in single-day races at home in Eritrea and then left home for the International Cycling Union’s development center in Aigle, Switzerland, in 2018.

In 2021, he won a silver medal in the under-23 road race at the world championships in Belgium. Then at the start of 2022, Girmay won a single-day classic at the Gent-Wevelgem race in Belgium.

Merhawi Kudus and Daniel Teklehaimanot paved the way for Girmay when they became the first Eritreans to ride in the Tour de France in 2015 — when Teklehaimanot became the first African rider to wear the King of the Mountains polka-dot jersey. They rode for the South African MTN-Qhubeka team.

Human rights groups describe Eritrea as one of the world’s most repressive countries. Since winning independence from Ethiopia three decades ago, the small Horn of Africa nation has been led by President Isaias Afwerki, who has never held an election.

Riders from only one other African country — South Africa — have won Tour stages: Robert Hunter (2007) and Daryl Impey (2019). Four-time Tour champion Chris Froome was born and raised in Kenya but represented Britain.

“This is so important for cycling,” said Aike Visbeek, the performance director for Girmay’s Intermarche-Wanty team. “Now the world can see what is possible when we give these guys a chance.”

And Girmay isn’t done yet.

He’s now high up in the points standings for the Tour’s green jersey that goes to the race’s top sprinter. And there are a handful more sprinting stages to come in this year’s race.

He’s just 24.

“It’s my time,” Girmay said. “Now we are really part of the big races. We have a lot victories so it’s our time, it’s our moment. I never cry, but inside I am, I just have no words.”

AP cycling: https://apnews.com/hub/cycling

Eritrea's Biniam Girmay greets spectators prior to the first stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 206 kilometers (128 miles) with start in Florence and finish in Rimini, Italy, Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Jerome Delay)

Biniam Girmay of Eritrea and Intermarche–Wanty teammates arrive for the presentation in Florence, Italy, Thursday, June 27, 2024, two days before the start of the Tour de France cycling race. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Eritrea's Biniam Girmay signs autographs prior to the start of the second stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 199.2 kilometers (123.8 miles) with start in Cesenatico and finish in Bologna, Italy, Sunday, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates with a teammate after during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Plaisance and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Tim de Waele/Pool Photo via AP)

Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates on the podium after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay, left, is congratulated by a teammate after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Plaisance and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (Tim de Waele/Pool Photo via AP)

Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates winning ahead of Colombia's Fernado Gavira, right, during the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates as he crosses the finish line ahead of Netherlands' Dylan Groenewegen, left, Belgium's Arnaud de Lie, second left, Colombia's Fernado Gavira, second right, ans Netherlands' Fabio Jakobsen, right, to win the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

Stage winner Eritrea's Biniam Girmay celebrates on the podium after the third stage of the Tour de France cycling race over 230.8 kilometers (143.4 miles) with start in Piacenza and finish in Turin, Italy, Monday, July 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)

PARIS (AP) — A 75-year-old American swimmer took a dip in the Seine River on Thursday, braving the murky waters in central Paris to celebrate the Fourth of July and highlight the French government’s efforts to clean up the river for the Olympic Games.

He had good timing: Hours later, regional authorities released data showing water quality in the river improved over the past week, raising hopes it can host Olympic swimming events after all.

Joel Stratte McClure, who last swam in the Seine in 1976 for a magazine cover shoot and turns 76 this month, said he was impressed with the progress made in cleaning up the river, but still had concerns about its safety.

“I may regret having swum,” McClure said before entering the water. “But if I come back alive, it will prove that the French have done a good job cleaning up the river.”

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo initially planned to swim in the Seine last month to prove its cleanliness — prompting an online campaign by her many critics threatening to poop in the river on the day of her dip.

But she postponed the swim after President Emmanuel Macron announced snap legislative elections that have plunged France into political tensions and eclipsed pre-Olympic excitement for many. Heavy rainfall in recent months has also translated into faster-than-usual currents for this time of year, and Hidalgo says she will swim in the river in mid-July instead.

“I think the president organized new elections to avoid swimming in the Seine,’’ McClure joked.

After a brief swim, he declared the water “fantastic” and expressed hope that others would follow his lead and take advantage of the cleaner river.

Marathon swimming and triathlon are scheduled to take place in the river near the Alexandre III bridge during the Olympics, which run from July 26-Aug. 11, and the Paralympics, which run from Aug. 28-Sept. 8.

Unsafe levels of E. coli were found in the river last week for the third consecutive week. But on Thursday, regional authorities released new results showing an improvement.

The test results by monitoring group Eau de Paris show that for all but one day from June 26 to July 2, contamination levels were below the safe limit of 900 colony-forming units per 100 milliliters determined by the World Triathlon Federation for competitions.

French officials remain optimistic, and insist there is no Plan B for Olympic open-water swimming events.

AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Women discuss by the Seine river with stands installed on its banks, Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Paris. The Seine river will host the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 26. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

A tourists boat makes its way on the Seine river with stands installed on its banks, Thursday, July 4, 2024 by Notre Dame de Pari cathedral in Paris. The Seine river will host the Paris Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 26. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Joel Stratte-McClure, 75, of the US, smiles after a short swim in the Seine river, Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Paris. The Seine River has been found unsafe according to test results published last Friday, less than a month before the Paris Olympics. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Joel Stratte-McClure, 75, of the US, holds American flag after completing a short swim in the Seine river, Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Paris. The Seine River has been found unsafe according to test results published last Friday, less than a month before the Paris Olympics. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)

Joel Stratte-McClure, 75, of the US, holds American flag after completing a short swim in the Seine river, Thursday, July 4, 2024 in Paris. The Seine River has been found unsafe according to test results published last Friday, less than a month before the Paris Olympics. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)