This Monday, Biniam Girmay found back the road to victory by winning the second stage of the Tour de Suisse in an authoritarian sprint defeating Arnaud Démare and Wout Van Aert.
This second stage was promised for the sprinters, however, containing 2000 climbing meters and the Oberarig climb (3 km at 5%) situated 20 kilometer before the finish line. Even though it was climbed at a good pace, it didn’t provoke damage so 120 riders headed to the finish in Nottwil.
Biniam Girmay launched with 250 meters to go, passing Wout Van Aert to take his second win of the season after his success in the Volta Valenciana. Two months after his bad crash in the Tour of Flanders, he offered the team of Jean-François Bourlart its thirteenth victory of the season and the very first one in the Tour de Suisse.
"Five years ago, it was here in Switzerland that my dream to become a professional cyclist began when I arrived in Europe, in the Centre Mondial du Cyclisme in Aigle. This is why my participation in the Tour de Suisse has a special meaning. I was happy to start with a time trial, with my national champion's kit around the shoulders. And today, I surprised myself by defeating several of the best sprinters in the world in a bunch sprint for the first time." "It was even more incredible thinking that it is only my return into competition after my bad crash in the Tour of Flanders and that I'm still building my form. After three weeks off the bike, I didn't have enough time to fully get back on the rails. But after three race days, I feel that my explosiveness and sprint speed are improving. I'm happy to distinguish myself on the highest level today."
"I'm incredibly proud on what we have done with the team today. It was headwind in the final climb. That's why we chose to stay hidden in the peloton. The final kilometers very very nervous, it was difficult to stay united with my teammates. But Lilian Calmejane stayed with me until I was back in the slipstream of my lead out Mike Teunissen with 1 kilometer to go. I just had to launch my sprint." "It was a long sprint, but the feeling to cross the line first was incredible. This winter we trained hard with the sprint train, but because of crashes and illness, it was the first time I raced together with Adrien Petit and Mike Teunissen this season. This gives us a lot of confidence for our next races. At the end of the week there will be other opportunities for me." "But first, I have to survive a couple of difficult days. With Rui Costa, we have a triple winner of the Tour de Suisse in our team and we have other good climbers. I won't hesitate to support and protect them."
