Biniam Girmay wins NSN’s first European stage

NSN made its European debut with its first victory thanks to Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay at the finish line in Torreblanca after 160 km of the first stage, which started in Segorbe. The predictions came true with a mass sprint finish, but the race wasn’t quite so straightforward. Before the Puerto de los Madroños climb, four riders broke away to try and get ahead of the peloton: Danny Van der Tuuk, Diego Sevilla, Mats Wenzel, and Adam Lewis. They were eventually caught after the Red Bull Bora-Hansgrohe rider, Giulio Pelizzari, launched an attack from Benicàssim. The wind and the peloton’s momentum thwarted the Italian’s attack, and he was caught less than a kilometer from the finish.

It was time for the sprinters, and Ame Marit, Lonardi, Vlasov, and others battled it out. But Biniam Girmay of NSN prevailed, ahead of Ame Marit and Giovanni Lonardi.

The Eritrean rider takes the yellow jersey in this first stage of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana GP Banc Sabadell. The NSN rider declared, “I’m very happy to wear yellow and regain my confidence.”

Pedersen Out of the Race

The Danish rider from Lidl-Trek, Martin Pedersen, suffered a crash 40 kilometers from the finish, forcing him to abandon the race. Pedersen, who was expected to be one of the key riders in the VCV, battling with Remco Evenepoel, has been ruled out and is awaiting medical diagnosis.

Tomorrow, the 17km time trial between Carlet and Alginet will take place, in which the overwhelming favorite, Remco Evenepoel, will have to prove his mettle to try and snatch the lead from Girmay, who has a 9-second advantage over the Belgian, currently seventh overall.