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Yesterday was a mixed bag for Biniam Girmay.

The Eritrean made history by becoming the first black African to win a stage of a Grand Tour with his victory in stage 10 of the Giro d’Italia.

So far so good, with Girmay out-sprinting Mathieu van der Poel to secure the win.

However, during his celebration on the podium following the race, he accidentally popped a Prosecco cork straight into his eye and had to be taken to hospital.

The Telegraph reports that he missed the standard post-stage press conference as a result:

[He] was later pictured with a bandage over his eye, putting his chances of starting Wednesday’s stage 11 to Reggio Emilia in serious doubt.

It was a cruel finish to an historic day.

Girmay was said to be struggling to see out of his left eye straight after the self-inflicted wound but his vision later returned.

Don’t laugh, the man was in pain:

Intermarche team doctor Piet Daneels said a decision would be taken this morning as to whether Girmay competes in Stage 11.

At least he’s not the only person who has suffered such indignation. The man he beat in yesterday’s stage, Mathieu van der Poel, took a cork to the neck after winning the opening stage of this year’s Giro d’Italia:

On passe à quelques centimètres d’un Top 10 all time des blessures à la con pic.twitter.com/Ys67ZwxgJz

— Fédé 🇫🇷 de la Lose (@FFLose) May 6, 2022

All in all, a most unlikely occupation hazard.

[source:telegraph]