Eritrea's Biniam Girmay won a second stage at the Tour de France when he edged a closing sprint to cement his status as the race's fastest man but there was gloom elsewhere with the death of a rider at the Tour of Austria.
Girmay, who became the first black rider to win a Tour de France stage last week, timed his effort perfectly at the end of the road leading to the finish of stage eight in Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises.
"To win one stage is already unbelievable, winning a second stage while wearing the green jersey even more so," Girmay said.
The tough false flat finish suited his style, and he made the most of it to beat Jasper Philipsen and Arnaud De Lie, extending his lead at the top of the rankings for the best sprinter's green jersey.
In Austria, Norwegian rider Andre Drege has died after injuries he sustained in a fall while racing downhill on the penultimate stage, organizers said.
The 25-year-old Coop Repsol rider had joined the leading group on one of Austria's highest roads in the Grossglockner region on the fourth stage, when he fell.
"It's difficult to understand what has happened, we're all in shock, it's very sad," said Slovenian Tadej Pogacar, who is currently leading the Tour de France.
"In the world of cycling, we all have to look out for each other and take care of each other."
Last year, a 17-year-old Italian died while racing downhill in a regional junior race in Austria. Swiss rider Gino Mader, 26, suffered a fatal fall during the Tour of Switzerland in June 2023.
AGENCIES
Biniam Girmay now has two stage victories to his name. AP
Andre Drege
