Only the beginning – Girmay pushes Van der Poel to limit in Giro d'Italia opener

Biniam Girmay finished second on stage 1 at the Giro d'Italia and is leading the best young rider classification
Biniam Girmay finished second on stage 1 at the Giro d'Italia and is leading the best young rider classification (Image credit: Getty Images)

A duel delayed. When Biniam Girmay was busy making history and winning Gent-Wevelgem, Mathieu van der Poel was feeling his way back into action at the Settimana Coppi e Bartali. When Van der Poel was notching up his second Tour of Flanders victory, Girmay was already at home in Eritrea.

The prize fight finally takes place at the Giro d’Italia. Round one fell to Van der Poel, who outlasted Girmay on the uphill finale at Visegrád to take the first maglia rosa of the race. On Friday’s evidence, mind, their bout has some way to go yet. This Giro may only be the beginning.

Barry Ryan
Head of Features

Barry Ryan was Head of Features at Cyclingnews. He has covered professional cycling since 2010, reporting from the Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and events from Argentina to Japan. His writing has appeared in The Independent, Procycling and Cycling Plus. He is the author of The Ascent: Sean Kelly, Stephen Roche and the Rise of Irish Cycling’s Golden Generation, published by Gill Books.