Roglic Loses Time After Crash; Girmay Wins Hat Trick of Stages
In a thrilling Stage 12 of the Tour de France, Biniam Girmay completed a hat trick of stage wins, while Primoz Roglic suffered a setback after a crash that cost him over two minutes.
The new king of sprints, Girmay, edged out Wout van Aert and Arnaud Demare to extend his lead in the best sprinter’s green jersey, a coveted title that has never been won by a Black rider before. This historic achievement has sent shockwaves throughout the cycling world.
Girmay’s hat trick of stage wins came despite a challenging finish, where a breakaway group was reeled in just 600 meters from the finish line. The Ethiopian cyclist credited his teammate Mike Teunissen for helping him navigate the chaotic finale, saying, "First of all I would say thanks God giving me a lot of strength and power… Without God we cannot do anything so I’m super happy."
Meanwhile, Roglic, a four-time Grand Tour champion, suffered a costly crash with 12 kilometers left, leaving him struggling at the back and unable to regain his position. The Bora-Hansgrohe rider finished 2 minutes, 27 seconds after the winner, dropping to sixth place overall.
Two-time Tour champion Tadej Pogacar remains in the yellow jersey, maintaining a lead of 1:06 over Remco Evenepoel and 1:14 over Jonas Vingegaard. However, Roglic’s setback has moved him behind Joao Almeida and Carlos Rodriguez, with a gap of 4:42 to the overall leader.
The crash also affected other riders, including Matthieu Van der Poel, who missed the final sprint due to missing his team’s lead-out train.
As the Tour de France heads into its 13th stage, all eyes will be on Girmay, who has become a force to be reckoned with in the world of professional cycling. With his hat trick of stage wins, he has cemented his status as a rising star in the sport.
Additional sources: AP
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