Biniam Girmay claimed his third stage victory at the 2024 Tour de France, outpacing Wout van Aert and Arnaud Démare in a dramatic sprint finish in Villeneuve-sur-Lot. Girmay’s win further extends his lead in the green jersey competition.
However, the final moments were not without controversy. Race officials relegated both Démare and Mark Cavendish to the back of the bunch sprint, promoting Pascal Ackermann to third and Jasper Philipsen to fourth. This decision significantly impacted the points tally, giving Girmay a commanding lead over Philipsen.
Girmay expressed his gratitude and joy after the stage, saying, “First of all, I would like to say thanks to God for giving me a lot of strength and power. Without God, we cannot do anything, so I’m super happy.” He also thanked his teammates, adding, “Without them, I cannot prove I am the fastest. I’m super happy.”
The race saw a series of unfortunate events, including a crash that took down several overall contenders. Primož Roglič lost 2:27 on race leader Tadej Pogačar after being caught up in a late crash. Despite efforts from his teammates, Roglič and several others couldn’t close the gap on the peloton, driven by Visma-Lease a Bike and the sprinters’ teams.
The day started with an early breakaway featuring Valentin Madouas, Jonas Abrahamsen, Quentin Pacher, and Anthony Turgis. Despite their efforts, they were reeled in with 44 km to go, setting the stage for the sprint finish. The peloton was disrupted by a crash with 12 km remaining, involving Alexey Lutsenko and causing significant time loss for Roglič.
Wout van Aert, who finished second, reflected on the chaotic final kilometres: “It was chaotic at the end, but I was always well positioned. I sprinted well, but before I knew it, I was between Arnaud Démare and the crowd barriers. It’s sour because that might have cost me the win today.”
Team leader Jonas Vingegaard reached the finish line unscathed, while Tadej Pogačar retained the yellow jersey, maintaining his lead over Remco Evenepoel and Vingegaard.
Despite the setbacks, Girmay’s triumph and his growing points lead mark a significant moment in the Tour. “Since I started to wear this green jersey, somehow I felt super fast, especially in my mind. I believe I can prove I’m the best,” Girmay said. “I’ve had a lot of ups and downs with crashes. But this year, I completely changed my training. I hope it continues like this.”
Pogačar also commented on the crash that affected Roglič, saying, “As soon as I crossed the finish line, my guys told me that Primož had crashed and lost time, so I got a real shock. It was really bad news. I’m really disappointed for him.”
With the Tour now heading towards the Pyrenees, the riders face a new phase of challenging stages. Pogačar remains optimistic, stating, “We will see in the Pyrenees again. It’s going to be a great showdown. But I’m pretty comfortable now in yellow. He needs to attack. We will see.”
2024 Tour de France Stage 12 result
Results powered by FirstCycling.com
Main photo credit: ASO – Billy Ceusters