Biniam Girmay became the first rider from Eritrea to win a WorldTour race when he prevailed at the Gent-Wevelgem on Sunday.
The Intermarche-Wanty Gobert rider beat Christophe Laporte (Jumbo-Visma) and Dries Van Gestel (TotalEnergies) after he and three other riders attacked 24 kilometres from the finish.
Girmay mastered the cobbles along the 248.8-km course in Belgium and had just enough has left for a perfect sprint finish.
“It’s unbelievable, amazing. I cannot expect this. We just change my plan a few days ago on Friday. We just came for a good result. This race is amazing. Unbelievable,” Girmay said.
“I don’t think [I’ll stay for Tour of Flanders]. I stayed here a long time – three months. I miss my wife and daughter so I go back home.”
Girmay will not take part in next week’s Tour of Flanders, the second Monument classic of the season.
