"A new opportunity, which may suit me even better" - Biniam Girmay eyeing victory on stage 2 of Tour Down Under after top-3 finish to open

Biniam Girmay got a solid start to his 2024 campaign with a very creditable third-placed finish on stage 1 of the Tour Down Under in Tanunda.

"There is no better feeling than crossing the finish line winning, which is why it is always a bit disappointing at first to just miss out on victory," the history-making Eritrean of Intermarché - Wanty reflected in his post-stage interview having just been edged out winner Sam Welsford and runner-up, Phil Bauhaus.

Despite missing out on victory, Girmay believes his performance gives plenty of reason for optimism looking forward. "I remember my good feeling in the sprint. The team had put me in a good position in the final kilometres until I lost some positions one and a half kilometres from the finish due to a traffic island just before the bend," he explains.

"Making up for this in the end was not easy given the high speed of BORA - hansgrohe's lead-out. So I ended up half a bike length away from victory. Tomorrow there will be a new opportunity, which may suit me even better," Girmay concludes. "Because of the hilly course it will be a challenge for the sprinter teams to control. I am confident that I can survive in this area and hope that it will still be a group sprint."