After two GC days on the opening couple of stages at the 2024 Giro d'Italia, the sprinters got their chance on stage 3. In an impressive showing, Intermarché - Wanty's Biniam Girmay took a 3rd place in the bunch sprint.
Far from a typical sprint day however, stage 3 had everything from a group of sprinters forming a breakaway mid-stage and late attacks by Tadej Pogacar and Geraint Thomas. "Right from the start, my teammates protected me well in the front of the peloton and then guided me to the first intermediate sprint. When the peloton split, we were represented with four riders in the first group," Girmay reflects to his team's official website post-stage. "With Madis Mihkels and Adrien Petit, I had two riders of my sprint train on my side, so it was an ideal situation for us. We really enjoyed racing in the breakaway."
"When the peloton came back, we continued to demonstrate our collective strength by maintaining a good position in the front of the peloton. Together, just like we planned, we managed to start the final climb among the first ten riders," continues the Eritrean, who made history at the 2022 Giro d'Italia, becoming the first black African to win a Grand Tour stage. "When Tadej Pogacar attacks you know it's going to be difficult for everyone, as usual."
In the end though, it was a bunch sprint that decided the day, and for Girmay, 3rd place leaves plenty of room for optimism. "The final preparation for the sprint was man against man. I was behind Jonathan Milan, but when I saw the sprint was launched on the right side with more speed against the headwind, I changed into the slipstream of Tim Merlier," Girmay concludes. "The line came a little too early for me, but I'm happy with the result. Achieving a podium on the first sprint opportunity is nice. I'm looking forward to the next two stages, or even three."
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