Eritrea's Biniam Girmay secured his second win on the Tour de France by expertly timing his sprint in the final straight to win the eighth stage, a 183.4km route from Semur-en-Auxois on Saturday.
Girmay, who made history as the first Black African to win a stage on the Tour, seized his opportunity to overtake Belgian Jasper Philipsen, securing a second victory for his Intermarche-Wanty team in the world's premier cycling event. Another Belgian, Arnaud De Lie, finished third.
Slovenian Tadej Pogacar of UAE Team Emirates kept the overall leader's yellow jersey as the peloton prepared for a challenging ninth stage with 14 gravel sections near Troyes.
"I've looked into it and it's a stage full of potential surprises, I believe it will be quite chaotic," Pogacar, who leads Belgian Remco Evenepoel by 33 seconds, shared with reporters. Evenepoel, the winner of Friday's individual time trial, is aware of the dangers posed by the 32km of white gravel roads.
"I don't think you can win the Tour on that stage, but you can certainly lose it," the 24-year-old remarked. Pogacar, with a broad smile, embraced the upcoming challenge.
"I can't wait to be there. It's not the most enjoyable stage, but I feel ready. I enjoy these kinds of stages," he said. The UAE Team Emirates rider is no stranger to such terrain, having claimed victory in the Strade Bianche classic earlier this year with a decisive move 80 kilometers from the finish.
