Biniam Girmay was transported to hospital on Tuesday after the stage he won in the Giro d’Italia. During the ceremony, the Eritrean accidentally shot the cork of his bottle of prosecco in his own eye.
Girmay, 22, was examined by medical personnel shortly after the ceremony. A spokesman for the Giro confirmed to Italian media that it was subsequently decided to transport Girmay to the hospital.
Girmay tried to uncork the prosecco bottle on stage, but it didn’t go well. The cork shot straight into his right eye. Although he could still laugh with a closed eye, the rider of Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux seemed to be in a lot of trouble.
Just minutes earlier, Girmay had made history by becoming the first black African to win a stage in a Grand Tour. In the sprint he was slightly faster than Mathieu van der Poel, who still finished second.
Biniam Girmay celebrated his stage win in the Giro d’Italia with a narrow eye.
Biniam Girmay celebrated his stage win in the Giro d’Italia with a narrow eye. Photo: Reuters
It is still unclear whether Girmay can start on Wednesday
A spokesperson for Intermarché-Wanty-Gobert Matériaux reported to RCS Sports that Girmay has returned to his hotel at the beginning of the evening. It is still unclear whether he can start on Wednesday in the eleventh stage of the Giro, a decision will be made on Wednesday morning.
That eleventh stage covers 200 flat kilometers from Santarcangelo di Romagna to Reggio Emilia. The peloton starts moving at 12.20 pm.