Sawt Falasteen - Girmay has golden dream for Africa at Tour de France

The 25-year-old from Eritrea won three stages on the 2024 Tour de France to claim the best sprinter's green jersey.

But on Saturday he could claim the legendary overall leader's yellow jersey.

This year the opening stage starts and finishes in Lille and should be decided by a mass bunch sprint, as it is largely flat.

The Intermarche-Wanty rider is the only black African on the 184-rider roster.

"I'm the only one, it's a lot of pressure but it's such a pleasure to represent my country and my continent," said the softly-spoken Girmay.

"But first for myself and for my family, it would be such a pleasure to win the first stage and get the yellow jersey."

Girmay and his key sprint rival Jasper Philipsen of Alpecin both warned that the stage could prove to be a frantic affair.

"I'm aware of the danger on the opening stage, if you fall here it ruins all three weeks," Girmay said at Lille's Opera House ahead of a parade around the city.

Girmay said his aim was to defend his green sprint points jersey, but also to win at least one stage.

"I'll always try to get the best possible result on the Tour de France, because this is what counts," Girmay said.

"The opening day is a nice opportunity for the sprinters, a flat stage, a sprint.

"If you crash here though it'll ruin your three weeks. But I'm here to win a stage, it's my dream, and I'll do my best to win it."

- 'The hotter, the better' -

Much of France has been wilting under an intense heatwave in the lead up to the Tour, but Girmay was unfazed by this.

"I like the heat. If there's one person who is happy to ride in the heat, it's me," he said with a broad smile.

"The hotter, the better."

The 27-year-old Philipsen was also targeting the opening stage.

"This is a rare chance for a sprinter to get the yellow jersey," he said, sat alongside his savvy sideman Mathieu van der Poel.

"I dont want to ruin my tour here, but it should be a bunch sprint if there's no wind," he said.

The 112th edition of the Tour sets off Saturday with the opening stages near the Belgian border and the English Channel.

The first 10 days of the 21-day run across the peaks and plains of France are set up to keep the tension boiling as far as possible before big guns Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard potentially slug it out for the victory in the Alps in the third week.

W.Mansour--SF-PST