Girmay Wins 12th Etape Tour De France, Pogacar Still Leads

Racer Eritrea Biniam Girmay successfully won the 12th Etape Tour de France (photo: x @leYour)

JAKARTA - Racer Eritrea Biniam Giramay successfully defeated Wout van Aert to win the 12th stage of Tour de France on Thursday, July 11, while Slovenian Tadedj Pogacar retains the yellow shirt of the leader while Tour de France 2024.

Girmay, who became the first black African to win at the Tour when he won the third stage, recorded his third win in this year's race on the expected day for sprinters.

"We don't want to take the risk today," said Girmay, 24, from Intermarche-Wanty after a 204 km trip from Aurillac to Villeneuve-Sur-Lot. "But in the end, when everyone got together, I felt really good, and I said on the radio, 'give me support and I can do it'. So I'm very happy."

Girmay beat Belgium's Van Alert and Arnaud Demare, although Demare was later relegated to the back of the sprinter group, meaning Pascal Actermann (Israel-Premier Tech) climbed onto the podium.

His victory confirmed his position in the acquisition of a green T-shirt with a 107-point advantage overten Philipsen (Alpecin-Deceuninck). "From now on I will continue to fully focus on sprints and green T-shirts. Once I start wearing them, I feel the fastest. If I have the right moment and position, I can prove myself in a sprint," he said.

This result is disappointing for Van Aert who says he is "trapped between Demmare and barrier". "I have to look back at what happened. After all, I have to restart my sprint - and I still almost win. If I don't have to stop pedaling, I will have a good chance," said Van Aert.

The day was calm for the contestants of the general classification where Pogacar protected his lead one minute and six seconds over Remco Evenepoel, followed by defending champion Jonas Vingegaard who is eight seconds adrift.

Meanwhile, Pogacar's compatriot, Primoz Roglic, lost more than two minutes due to the accident towards the end of etape. The winner of Giro d'Italy 2023 Roglic fell 12 km from the finish line, a day after losing 25 seconds due to another accident at 11th stage.

"I am very sad for Primoz," said Pogacar. "I am shocked, this is really bad news. I am disappointed for him and wish him the best. I think Primoz will fly in the last week." Roglic crossed the finish line with cuts and bruises, and is now in sixth position overall, four minutes 42 seconds adrift of Pogacar.