Cyclist's historic achievement ruined by painful celebration mishap

A cyclist in the famed Giro D'Italia has had a truly impactful moment in sporting history marred by an unfortunate accident on the podium.

Biniam Girmay became the first black African to win a stage in a Grand Tour event in cycling history, a feat which garnered widespread praise throughout the sporting community.

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The 22-year-old Eritrean said it had long been a dream of his to simply compete in the Giro D'Italia - let alone win a stage.

“I watched the Giro as a kid on television and then went out riding with the dream of one day taking part,” Girmay said afterwards.

“We write a little piece of history every day.

“I’m really happy about what I did today, I don’t have the words to describe it. Thanks to my team who controlled the race from early on.”

Unfortunately for Girmay, his celebration was short-lived after the champgane bottle he opened fired the cork directly into his eye, resulting in a trip to hospital.

It was a heartbreaking turn of events for the Intermarche team rider, who sits second in the sprint points race behind Frenchman Arnaud Demare.

Fans who were thrilled to se Girmany on the podium were immiediately concerned for his wellbeing, with the 22-year-old reporting he couldn't see out of the injured eye afterwards.

After leaving hospital later that evening sporting bandages around his eye, team doctor Piet Daneels said Girmay would decide whether or not to continue prior to the start of the next stage.

“After the ceremony, Girmay could no longer see,” Daneels told Sporza.

“We immediately came to the hospital of Jesi, here he was treated well. He had bleeding in the anterior chamber of the eye.

"Such bleeding is not threatening to the eye itself, but it is important that this is monitored.

“At the moment it is better. He looks back. But to decide whether he starts tomorrow, that will have to take another night.

“As it stands now, I don’t think there is permanent damage, but we have to wait and see. There will be a new evaluation tomorrow, but we will be careful with this incident.”

Disappointment over accident after Biniam Girmay's historic cycling moment

The Intermarche team could be forgiven for feeling a bit flat heading into stage 11 after such a bizarre misfortune befell Girmay.

Girmay is the first black African to win a Grand Tour stage, after Kenyan born Chris Froome claimed multiple tour victories.

He outdueled Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel to win stage 10, and was heartily congratulated by his rival after the pair had crossed the line.

Intermarche team boss Valerio Piva said Girmay's win was a landmark moment in cycling history.

“This is a big moment, another continent arriving on the scene who will be important in the future,” he said.

Spanish rider Juan Pedro López of the Trek-Segafredo team maintained his 12-second lead over João Almeida in the overall standings as the three-week race approached the half-way stage. Romain Bardet is 14 seconds back.

In March, Girmay became the first rider from a sub-Saharan country to win a single-day classic when he triumphed in the Gent-Wevelgem race.

The the first half of the 122-mile leg from Pescara to Jesi was mainly flat along the Adriatic coast before three fourth-category climbs later in the day.

Several riders attacked without success on the final climb to Monsano and the ensuing descent.

Girmay nearly missed a turn on the descent but was able to recover in time to rejoin the leaders for the finale.

With AP

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