- Verstappen ends long wait for pole at US Grand Prix sprint qualifying
- 'Heartbreaking': Dad, fans grieve Liam Payne's death
- Ligue 1 leaders Monaco held by Lille in stalemate
- Record high Colombian cocaine production in 2023: UN
- McLaren boss blasts rival's comments on Norris as "tasteless"
- El Salvador activists acquitted after contentious trial
- FIA inspect Red Bull car's to check controversial set-up device
- Power plant failure triggers blackout across cash-strapped Cuba
- US budget deficit widens to $1.8 tn, third highest on record
- Google wins delay opening Android app store to rivals
- Global markets mixed as investors weigh earnings and China GDP
- Harris targets Trump's age after report of exhaustion
- Guirassy saves Dortmund's blushes against St Pauli
- 'Completely crazy' as Lavreysen wins record 15th world cycling title
- Animal rights activists sentenced for Buckingham Palace fountain protest
- Cuba experiences nationwide blackout after power plant failure
- Sainz puts Verstappen, Norris in shade at US Grand Prix practice
- New Zealand edge West Indies to reach Women's T20 World Cup final
- UK's Lammy warns China over support for Russia in Ukraine
- Global coral bleaching event biggest on record: US agency
- UK activist jailed for dyeing fountain outside Buckingham Palace red
- Relief, anxiety in Israel after Sinwar's killing
- Wawrinka, 39, ousts top seed Rublev to reach Stockholm semis
- Harris, Trump descend on Michigan amid blockbuster early voting
- West Indies' Dottin restricts New Zealand to 128-9 in World Cup semi
- Sinwar's killing boosts Netanyahu but still no sign of war ending
- High court throws Kenya deputy president replacement into disarray
- Father of One Direction star Payne arrives in Argentina
- Guardiola says 'part of me will leave' when Begiristain quits Man City
- 'Timebomb' ship highlights hazard of dangerous cargoes
- France charges SUV driver with murder for running over cyclist
- Ex-Fulham Ladies captain Ronnie Gibbons 'groped' by Al-Fayed
- Italy judges reject first migrant detentions in Albania
- What next for Hamas after Sinwar's killing?
- Postecoglou urges inconsistent Spurs to change perceptions
- UN force says 'widespread destruction' in south Lebanon
- New Zealand on America's Cup cusp after double triumph
- New Zealand's Ravindra makes father proud with 'special' Test ton
- Stock markets mixed as investors weigh earnings, China GDP
- Ten Hag slams 'fairy tales and lies' as Man Utd boss comes out fighting
- Hamas mourns Sinwar, vows no hostage release until war ends
- Forest boss Nuno hit with three-game ban
- 'The killings continue': Sinwar death brings no respite for Gazans
- Gaza 'hell on Earth' for one million children: UN
- Maresca 'very happy' with start of Chelsea career
- New Zealand extends America's Cup lead on Britain
- England boss Tuchel deserves unconditional support: Guardiola
- P&G profits dip, says China recovery will take time
- India fight back after Ravindra ton cements New Zealand lead
- US regulator probes Tesla's self-driving mode after crashes
Girmay 'opens the door' for Africa with Tour stage win as Carapaz takes lead
Eritrean Biniam Girmay dedicated his stage three win at the Tour de France on Monday to "the continent of Africa" as Richard Carapaz took the overall race lead in Turin.
"Let me open the door," 24-year-old Girmay posted on social media after earlier pointing out he was the "first Black African to win at the Tour.
"It means a lot personally for me and for the continent of Afric," he added.
Girmay is the third African to win on the Grande Boucle, first raced in 1903, after South Africans Daryl Impey and Rob Hunter.
"Huge congrats to all: Biniam Girmay makes history and wins stage 3 of Tour de France. A great and memorable day indeed for #eritreancycling and #africancycling," Yemane G. Meskel, Eritrea's Minister of Information, posted on X.
Multiple Tour winner Chris Froome was born in Kenya but competed for Britain.
"There are many obstacles for African riders," said Intermarche rider Girmay.
"I had to come to Europe, learn English, learn the cycling language, it takes time and support.
"I should thank my team because with them I have grown every season."
Carapaz became the first Ecuadorian to wear the leader's yellow jersey, taking it from Slovenian Tadej Pogacar who was held up in a late crash in the run to the line.
Carapaz and Pogacar are level on time at the top of the overall standings but the 31-year-old is ahead thanks to his better final position in the day's racing.
Belgian Remco Evenepoel and Danish two-time defending champion Jonas Vingegaard are third and fourth respectively also on the same time.
Girmay pipped Colombian Fernando Gaviria and Belgian Arnaud De Lie after a chaotic finale marked by a late fall as the riders hit speeds of around 65kph in the dash to the line.
The crash, in which the big favourite for the sprint Belgian Jasper Philipsen was involved, created a break in the peloton.
Two-time race winner Pogacar, gunning for a historic Giro d'Italia and Tour double, did not fall but was delayed.
- 'A legend now' -
Veteran Mark Cavendish was held up by a wheel change as he bids for a record 35th stage win.
The 39-year-old prickly sprinter appeared genuinely pleased for Girmay.
"That's massive, for him, for the Tour, for Africa. He's a legend now isn't he," said Cavendish.
Carapaz came third on the Tour in 2021 but was overlooked in the build-up to this edition after falling on day one last year.
The Olympic road race champion was also not selected by Ecuador to defend his title at the Paris Games.
Now he has gatecrashed the Fab Four of Pogacar, Vingegaard, Evenepoel and Primoz Roglic, who dropped off the pace in Turin.
"I was sick after the Tour of Switzerland and I know you need to be in optimal shape here," said former Giro Carapaz.
"For the first time yesterday I felt much better. Whatever comes after this is a victory, but we will defend the jersey with everything as long as we can."
After two sweltering stages, the skies were shrouded grey entering the northern Italian industrial city with thunder and torrential rain shortly after the race ended.
Girmay is a strong sprinter and modelled his style on Peter Sagan.
He was aided in his win at Turin by the absence of stage favourite Philipsen, who fell in the run in.
The stage winner spoke about his childhood in Eritrea, where cycling is a major sport.
"After lunch in July my dad always used to say 'come on guys, let's watch the Tour de France'.
"One day, after Sagan won and I asked my dad if he thought I could win one day and he said if I worked hard I could.
"But I was inspired too by Daniel Teklehaimanot when he got the polka dot jersey in 2015," he recalled of his compatriot.
"But this is for everyone, they all inspired me, all the Eritrean cyclists."
Girmay signalled his coming of age in 2022 when he became the first African to win a one-day classic at Gent-Wevelgem, aged 21.
It was his second Grand Tour stage win after the Giro in 2022 where he injured an eye opening a bottle of prosecco on the podium.
Y.Aukaiv--AMWN