Girmay was one of four men to break away following the final ascent of Kemmelberg, with the Intermarche-Wanty-Gobert Materiaux rider fending off a spirited chase from Laporte (Jumbo-Visma), Dries van Gestel (TotalEnergies) and Jasper Stuyven (Trek–Segafredo).
The 21-year-old was overcome with emotion after the race, having become the first African to claim the Belgian event’s coveted crown.
“It’s unbelievable, amazing,” Girmay said. “I cannot expect this. We just changed my plan a few days ago on Friday.
“We just came for a good result. This race is amazing. Unbelievable.
“I don’t think [I’ll stay for Tour of Flanders]. I stayed here a long time – three months. I miss my wife and daughter, so I [will] go back home.”
With three ascents of the cobbled Kemmelberg, six other climbs, and three gravel sectors preceding a flat run to the finish, it wasn’t until Kemmelberg’s final trek that the race took its telling twist.
A bursting break from Wout van Aert saw the Jumbo-Visma star move to the front, where he was quickly joined by Kasper Asgreen (Quick-Step Alpha Vinyl), Mads Pedersen (Trek-Segafredo), Soren Kragh Andersen (DSM), Matej Mohoric (Bahrain-Victorious), Dylan van Baarle (Ineos Grenadiers), and teammates Tiesj Benoot and Laporte in time for the descent.
The strong group appeared to discourage the other riders from working, and a second group containing Arnaud Demare (Groupama FDJ), Jasper Philipsen (Alpecin-Fenix) and Girmay was able to close the gap 27 kilometres out from the line.
It was then that Girmay’s race-winning move was made – the Eritrean moving clear alongside Laporte, Stuyven and van Gestel with 24 kilometres remaining.
Their subsequent 40-second lead fell to just 20 seconds with 3.5 kilometres remaining, but the fast-finishing quartet were able to hold on and sprint for the victory, one achieved by Girmay’s impressive 250-metre dash.
“I felt confident in the last 250 metres,” Girmay explained. “It’s unbelievable, yeah.
“It changed a lot in the future, especially for all African riders.
“I lost many places, especially on the first section and on the first cobblestones. I felt a bit uncomfortable.
“But after I felt better and better, rode smart, followed. Then in the end, you know, everybody is waiting for van Aert so I played it a bit easy.”
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