🏆 Biniam Girmay wins the 2024 Tour de France Saitama Criterium 💪 #SaitamaCriterium | @saitamacrite
🎥 For those who still had doubts, Roglic and Girmay demonstrate tellingly that criterium is prearranged
CyclingTuesday, 05 November 2024 at 08:28
Every year after the Tour de France, there are many criteriums, otherwise known as laps around the church, with the big performers from the Tour at the start. These criteriums bring the big stars close to the fans, but they have nothing to do with real cycling. The criterium during the fall in Saitama, Japan, was another example.
Headliners: Biniam Girmay and Primoz Roglic. Girmay sprints forward in his green Tour jersey, and Roglic rides ahead in his red Vuelta jersey. The Slovenian could easily have crossed the line first in the rain, but that was not the intention. The sprinters in the background are all watching Girmay, the perfect winner for that day.
The Eritrean starts his sprint far too late, and so Roglic almost has to hold his legs still
to let him pass. As it was on paper, Roglic still pushed his wheel over the line in time for second place. Mark Cavendish concluded the show in third position. Japan is happy, riders are happy, and it's time for vacation!
Video: Roglic lets Girmay win in Japan
Read also
Il Lombardia 2024
Not crying in fetal position, but mashing the pedals during disliked European Championship, Pim Ronhaar deals with terrible summer
Zoe Bäckstedt dives into the field: "I just need to fine-tune a bit and then I'll be ready"
Mauro Schmid knows how to tackle next year: "I need to work on my positioning and energy distribution"
Bilbao seems pretty much done with Pogacar despite the arrival of Martinez: "With Evenepoel you can still try something"
Decathlon AG2R under review: with raw top talent and unpolished Visma diamond ready for next step?
Latest Cycling News
Not crying in fetal position, but mashing the pedals during disliked European Championship, Pim Ronhaar deals with terrible summer
Zoe Bäckstedt dives into the field: "I just need to fine-tune a bit and then I'll be ready"
Mauro Schmid knows how to tackle next year: "I need to work on my positioning and energy distribution"
Bilbao seems pretty much done with Pogacar despite the arrival of Martinez: "With Evenepoel you can still try something"
Decathlon AG2R under review: with raw top talent and unpolished Visma diamond ready for next step?
Popular Cycling News
November vacation month: Roglic and Pogacar relax by the water, parties for Asgreen, Van Dijke and the Bjergs
Nys secured title his father never won, but turned a little pale due to chain failure Haverdings and huge barriers
Bad news for cyclo-cross fans: Van Anrooij has to end season after surgery, Van Aert returns later than expected
Emotional Nys controlled the race from the start: "My mind was clear, and I knew exactly what I had to do."
Herygers gets "almost emotional himself" but hopes Thibau Nys remains cautious: "He obviously can't wait"
Latest Comments
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024
- This is not a gravel race. UCI fail, from the surface they are on to team tactics. In what country was the first "gravel race" in what country is the most popular gravel race? Go with the race model that created the discipline.
Barnes127411-10-2024 - And don't forget he has now won 4 of the big 10 races (Grand tours, Monuments and WC/OG) in one year with a chance to make that 5. (5 has only been done once before)Joostmehrtens05-10-2024