“It’s our time, our moment”: Biniam Girmay makes Tour de France history with first black African stage win; Intermarché-Wanty pro wheelies uphill for over a minute on super steep climb; Are sprinting aero Batman beaks now a thing? + more on the live blog

Since turning pro under three years ago, Biniam Girmay has been busy making history.

The Eritrean star, a former winner at Gent-Wevelgem and Giro d’Italia, added the most important line yet to his revolutionary list of achievements, as he became the first black African to win a stage of the Tour de France in its 121-year history, at the end of a chaotic sprint in Turin.

HISTORY MAKER BINIAM GIRMAY WINS TOUR DE FRANCE STAGE 3!!!!! 🥇 #TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/n5myfnETU9

— Intermarché-Wanty (@IntermarcheW) July 1, 2024

Following the most relaxed 220km or so the peloton will experience throughout the next three weeks, a predictably messy run-in ensued on the Tour’s last full day in Italy, as pre-stage favourite Jasper Philipsen was hampered first by lead-out man (and world champion) Mathieu van der Poel suffering a mechanical with 6km to go, before a mass high-speed crash brought Philipsen himself down, along with a host of others, just before the 2km mark.

Another rider hampered by the crash, but who didn’t hit the deck, was Mark Cavendish, who failed to tag on to the small group that contested the finish after the bunch was split by the spill.

Of the riders who made it to the end, Girmay’s Intermarché-Wanty team took control heading into the final kilometre, before Mads Pedersen launched with 200m to go after a late, powerful surge by his Lidl-Trek teammate Jasper Stuyven.

However, much like during Saturday’s sprint into Rimini, Pedersen faded fast once he hit the wind, and it was Girmay – a rider often more suited to a harder sprint and who had originally been detailed to lead out teammate Gerben Thijssen – who possessed the skill, nerve, and power to burst through tight on the barriers to easily hold off a surprisingly resurgent Fernando Gaviria and Arnaud De Lie for his first Tour de France stage win.

BINIAM GIRMAY 🇪🇷

History maker, again! #TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/D9XGhXrSeu

— ITV Cycling (@itvcycling) July 1, 2024

And it’s a win – like everything Girmay has done on a bike since turning pro – that holds a deeper resonance than just another victory at the world’s biggest bike race, a history-making, breakthrough moment for Eritrea and Africa, as well as for the rider himself.

It’s a moment that both firmly establishes Girmay as cycling’s leading 21st-century pioneer, the figurehead of all that will surely come after him, while also transcending his sport, and even a race as big and important as the Tour, entirely.

“First of all, I thank God for everything, for giving me all the strength and support,” an emotional Girmay said at the finish.

“Since I started cycling I always dreamed of being in the Tour de France, but now I can’t believe it. To win at the Tour, in a big bunch sprint, against the fastest riders in the world, it’s unbelievable. I want to thank my wife, my family, and every Eritrean and African. We can be proud – we’re now a real part of the big races and getting a lot of victories.

“It’s our moment, it’s our time.”

It certainly is Girmay’s time – and boy, did he make it count today.

And going from crowd-pleasing wheelies to making history on the biggest stage of them all – it’s not been a bad few days for Intermarché-Wanty, has it?

Now, this is what the Tour de France is all about:

Bini! Bini! Bini!

"You make history"

🇪🇷@GrmayeBiniam#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/CZpy1qdHYw

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 1, 2024

> General Election 2024 — What do the main parties promise for cycling and active travel?

Quick, cut short your afternoon nap or close that spreadsheet – someone’s attacked at the Tour de France!

Yep, with just over 60km to go, TotalEnergies’ Fabien Grellier decided to abruptly end the ennui that had engulfed today’s long, long stage through northern Italy by actually shooting up the road on his own.

🚀 He's flying. 🇫🇷 @fabien_grellier has gained a 40'' lead on the peloton. How long will he last?

🇫🇷 @fabien_grellier a creusé un petit écart ! Il a pris 40'' sur le peloton et ne relâche pas son effort.#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/6MbCxk0yo4

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 1, 2024

Yes, he’s completely doomed, and yes, the move is probably just a belated attempt by TotalEnergies to drum up some much-needed publicity for their underperforming team, but still – there’s been an attack!

Thank you Fabian Grellier #TDF2024

— Michael Rasmussen (@MRasmussen1974) July 1, 2024

Today’s seemingly never-ending third stage to Turin marks the first chance for the sprinters to taste success at this year’s Tour de France – which, by extension, means it’s Mark Cavendish’s first opportunity to finally secure that record-breaking 35th stage win.

Of course, it’s hard to predict how involved the Manx rider will be in today’s bunch gallop, following the sufferfest that was the Tour’s opening weekend, and the clear toil the climbs and heat had on Cavendish, especially during that grim slog through the Apennines on Saturday.

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

But this is Mark Cavendish – sorry, Sir Mark Cavendish – we’re talking about, and you can never rule him out, especially with his Astana team currently appearing committed to delivering the former world champion in the right place this afternoon.

Which is why you’ll forgive us if we’re a bit excited that today in Turin could prove the crowning glory of one of the great, if not the greatest, sprinting career cycling has ever seen.

So, while we count down to the inevitable sprint showdown (and possible Tour history), why not have a browse through all of Cav’s Tour stage-winning bikes down the years – a list that currently has a Wilier-shaped hole in it…

> Mark Cavendish's Tour de France stage-winning bikes — from Scott to Specialized, every bike the Manx Missile won his 34 Tour stages on

And no, I can’t promise I won’t behave like this every sprint stage until he wins, alright? You’ll just have to put up with it…

Just when you thought, after Visma-Lease a Bike unveiled Giro’s new alien-inspired TT helmet earlier this year, that cycling aero tech couldn’t get any more bizarre, Dutch champion Dylan Groenewegen was spotted riding today’s stage to Turin… wearing what can only be described as an ‘aero beak’:

WHY DOES DYLAN GROENEWEGEN HAVE A BEAK?!! 😭 #TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/cMyh0WgRmS

— Katy M, Le Tour Edition (@writebikerepeat) July 1, 2024

What is going on?

Our tech team is currently working hard to figure out what Groenewegen’s Batman-influenced (or, as his own Jayco-AlUla team said on social media, duck-inspired) look is all about – is it about breathing? Is it for helping him cut through the air at 80kph? Is it for solving crime? Or scavenging bread from a park pond? Who knows.

😎 I am Batman!#TDF2024 pic.twitter.com/BpUnwVo0Sa

— Tour de France™ (@LeTour) July 1, 2024

In any case, I dread to think if Groenewegen wins the sprint wearing that what the rest of the peloton will look like tomorrow…

An aero beak 😎 pic.twitter.com/HmNtbXdn6W

— GreenEDGE Cycling (@GreenEDGEteam) July 1, 2024

Yes, cycling is a normal sport, repeat, cycling is a normal sport.

After England and Newcastle forward Anthony Gordon joined that illustrious club of Newcastle and England forwards who have unceremoniously crashed while riding a bike (looking at you, Michael Owen), the winger has now vowed to perform a cycling-themed celebration if he manages to nab a goal at the European Championships – which considering manager Gareth Southgate’s overly cautious approach both to substitutes and attacking, seems an overly optimistic pledge, if we’re honest.

Speaking to the media after his fall, which took place during the England team’s traditional post-match recovery ride last week and which left the 23-year-old with grazes on his chin and hands, Gordon said: “I could have [been hurt] with the speed I was going down a hill. I could have ended up anywhere. It was on the golf course and I’ve managed to land on the only bit of gravel there was.

“I think the moral of the story is that we spend too much time on our phones these days. The moral of the story is to just enjoy the moment without a phone.”

Anthony Gordon was presented with a helmet and stabilisers after his bike accident yesterday 😅 pic.twitter.com/u7JJU1oG1w

— ESPN UK (@ESPNUK) June 28, 2024

Asked if he would mark the bike crash with an appropriate, Gazza-style celebration, Gordon – who was presented with stabilisers and a helmet by England’s coaching staff the day after the incident, much to the amusement of fellow under-used sub Cole Palmer – added: “I’ll put stabilisers next to the pitch maybe and you lot [the media] will get credit for the celebration. I will do it. You’ve got my word.”

Just need to have a word with Gareth then, Anthony, judging by your persistent place on the bench, even during the most dire stages of that lucky last-16 victory over Slovakia last night.

First he subjects us to the most boring brand of football imaginable, then he potentially robs us of a cycling-inspired celebration because he’s afraid of subbing on a player who might actually have a go? You have a lot to answer for, Mr Southgate…

We’ll move away from the Tour for a minute or two (don’t worry, nothing is happening anyway), and up to always sunny Inverness, where a public e-bike scheme has been suspended thanks to “relentless vandalism” which left just six of the service’s 56 bikes available to use.

In the past few days across Inverness and Fort William, where the Hi-Bike scheme set up three years ago also operates, eight of the e-bikes have been stolen and around 20 damaged, totalling £50,000 in costs.

The bikes have been found crashed and broken, the BBC reports, as well as thrown into rivers and the Caledonian Canal, while the British Transport Police said it was investigating damage to bikes at a hub at Inverness Railway Station. Damage has also been caused by people trying to wrestle the bikes out of charging stations.

Established in 2021 by regional public transport body Hitrans, the Hi-Bike scheme has seen 40,000 rides since its launch, with plans to expand it to other locations.

However, Hitrans has said there has been a “huge surge” in vandalism since the Easter school holidays, leading to the scheme’s suspension.

The transport body added there had also been incidents involving young people sitting in the front baskets of bikes as their friends rode against the flow of traffic in Inverness city centre.

“It is disappointing that a small minority of people are misusing the system,” Hitrans’ partnership director Ranald Robertson said.

“Those who choose to ride the bikes with others sitting in the basket will have their membership suspended should this be reported, while any and all incidents of vandalism are being reported to Police Scotland and the British Transport Police.”

More cycle storage opposition madness, this time courtesy of Portsmouth and one resident who appears keen to blame bad driving on anyone but the bad drivers:

> “Ridiculous” bike hangar “will cause more accidents” on street where “there have been more than five car crashes”, resident claims — but council defends “popular” bicycle storage

The battle for the yellow jersey is already on. And it promises to be epic.

After the shadow boxing in the heat through the Apennines on stage one, the Tour GC fight exploded to life yesterday on the iconic San Luca climb in Bologna.

As Kevin Vauquelin pulled off another stunning breakaway win up ahead, Tadej Pogačar blew the race apart near the top of San Luca with a blistering turn of pace that only – notably – reigning Tour champion Jonas Vinegaard could follow.

That Pogi bomb would see the Slovenian move into the yellow jersey for the first time in two years – despite the Slovenian admitting that he sat up at the finish to force Remco Evenepoel (who had bridged across brilliantly on the flat run-in alongside Richard Carapaz) into the race lead – and provided confirmation for the two-time Tour winner that he’s on the right track after winning the Giro (and everything else) earlier this year.

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

“I did a really good attack, and I was happy that I could explode the contenders a little bit,” Pogačar said at the finish. “Jonas was quite fast on my wheel and he was really strong. We went to the finish and then Evenepoel and Carapaz came in the last kilometre as well.

“It was a good stage. I did a good effort, and it feels good to be in yellow again. Last year I was so close and then I cracked. It’s good to be in yellow even if it’s without any margin. It’s confirmation that I’m strong.”

However, Pogačar’s all-out attack on San Luca also proved something else – that Jonas Vingegaard, on only his second race day back after that horrific crash in the Basque Country in April, is also strong.

“I think this went way better than I ever expected, so I’m really satisfied,” the Dane told NBC after the stage.

“That I was able to follow Tadej on the second climb of San Luca... I think this is probably one of the stages we feared the most, or we actually expected me to lose time.

“Honestly speaking I didn’t have a good preparation for this race. I only had one and a half months to prepare, probably, so I think I can be super happy with how everything is going so far.

“I knew already before my crash that the stage today maybe suited him better than it suited me, and especially after my crash, I was even more behind. At least I can say now that if I’m not back at least I’m super, super close.”

(Zac Williams/SWpix.com)

Retired pro Dan Martin was also impressed with Vingegaard’s form so early in the race.

“Super impressive how quickly Vingegaard reacted to Pogačar’s attack yesterday as for me it was a surprise where he went,” Martin wrote this morning on X. “Zero hesitation. To have that level of awareness shows how good his condition is.”

The Tour is warming up nicely…