In a dramatic turn of events during Monday's Stage 3 of the Tour de France, an otherwise tranquil ride was shattered by a crash involving Belgian sprinter Jasper Philipsen, just 60 kilometers from the finish line. Biniam Girmay, who was directly behind Philipsen, witnessed the incident unfold.

The chaos didn’t end there. As the cyclists approached Dunkerque, two more serious crashes occurred near Girmay, who fortunately managed to steer clear of the wreckage. "I’m super happy I made it through safely," the Eritrean cyclist shared with Cyclism’Actu, reflecting on the nerve-wracking finale.

The tension was palpable for Girmay. "Every time I hear a crash behind me, my heart races to 300 beats per minute," he confessed. He expressed deep sympathy for his fellow riders, especially Philipsen. "It’s heartbreaking to witness someone fall—particularly at such high speeds. I told myself I’d be happy as long as I finished safely, but in an instant, I almost wanted to stop pedaling because it’s so tough out there."

Girmay was taken aback by the unexpectedness of the situation. "I don’t even know exactly what happened at the intermediate sprint. I saw Philipsen collide with Coquard right in front of me, and seeing him go down was gut-wrenching. He’s an incredible rider, and to see him fall and pull out of the Tour de France... I genuinely feel for him."