Pro cyclist experienced the ecstasy and the agony of bike racing in the span of a few minutes.聽
On Tuesday, the 22-year-old Eritrean became the first Black cyclist to when he sprinted to victory during stage ten of the Giro d鈥橧talia.聽
In the moments after his big win, Girmay鈥檚 fortunes took a turn for the worse. Officials handed him a bottle of prosecco to spray in celebration as he stood on the podium, a longtime honor given to winners of bicycle races. But when Girmay opened the bottle, the cork flew through the air and . Video footage showed him rubbing his face in pain after the freak accident.聽
After the celebration, Girmay was transferred to a nearby hospital, where doctors determined he had suffered a hemorrhage to his eye. As a result, he was prior to the start of today鈥檚 stage 11.聽
鈥淚n order to minimize the risk of expansion of the hemorrhage and the intraocular pressure, it is strongly recommended to avoid physical activity,鈥 Piet Daneels, team doctor for Girmay鈥檚 Intermarch茅-Wanty-Gobert squad, told reporters earlier today. 鈥淥ur priority is a complete healing of the injury, and that鈥檚 why we decided together with the rider and the sports direction that Biniam will not appear at the start of the 11th stage.鈥
Veteran cycling journalists told 国产吃瓜黑料 this is likely the first time a rider has abandoned the Italian tour due to a facial injury sustained from a flying cork. Podium booze has led to other mishaps, however. Earlier this season, Dutch rider Mathieu van der Poel was by a popped cork after opening a bottle of champagne, but he was uninjured by the impact.聽
Opening champagne, prosecco, or other bubbly alcohol on the podium is a longtime custom in cycling. , Giro d鈥橧talia officials are considering removing corks before the ceremony to avoid future mishaps.聽
The unfortunate incident does not take away from Girmay鈥檚 ride into cycling history. Grand-tour racing dates back to the inaugural Tour de France in 1903. Since then, the overwhelming majority of stage winners at the three grand tours鈥攖he Tour de France, Giro d鈥橧talia, and Vuelta a Espa帽a鈥攈ave been white and of European descent. Girmay鈥檚 home country of Eritrea, in East Africa, has a tradition of bicycle racing, which helped support his rise; in March, he became the first Black rider to win a one-day classics race when he claimed Belgium鈥檚 Gent-Wevelgem.
The editorial staff at 国产吃瓜黑料 wishes Biniam Girmay a speedy recovery.