Victory for Girmay and Maillot Jaune for Carapaz

Biniam Girmay from the Belgian team “Intermarché” was the third African to win a stage in the Tour de France, after the South Africans Daryl Impey and Rob Hunter. Girmay worked his way up from 10th place to the top in the final meters. Girmay’s team may have even relied on the Belgian Gerben Thijssen. But Girmay was the strongest and the cleverest in the finish.

“Ever since I started cycling, I always dreamed of taking part in the Tour de France,” said winner Girmay. “The fact that I was able to win a stage in a mass sprint on my second participation – that’s incredible for me!”

Olympic champion Carapaz new in the yellow jersey

The 31-year-old veteran Richard Carapaz from Ecuador was also happy at the end. The Olympic champion from Tokyo and Giro d’Italia winner from 2019 was the first man from Ecuador to win the yellow jersey. Carapaz sprinted and reached the finish in 14th place. Among the four top riders who finished at the same time (Carapaz, Pogacar, Evenepoel, Vingegaard), the total ranking from all stages decides the ranking in the overall classification. The Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, winner of the Giro a month ago with a ten-minute lead, had already said before the stage that he did not want to fight for the leader’s jersey at this early stage of the Tour.

Otherwise, the longest stage of this Tour de France offered little spectacle. The field approached the finish at the slowest of all calculated timetables. The Frenchman Fabien Grellier increased the pace with a breakaway. Grellier evidently did not want to miss the kick-off of the European Championship round of 16 match between France and Belgium. Silvan Dillier, who had lost almost 20 minutes on the first two stages, was also often seen in the front positions.

An early endurance test will take place on Tuesday in the 4th stage – and probably the first showdown between the Tour favorites. For the first time, the course will lead through the high mountains. The Tour classic Col du Galibier will be crossed, followed by a rapid, steep descent to the finish line in Valloire.