Tour de France history for Girmay

Biniam Girmay grew up in Eritrea watching the Tour de France on TV each July with his father. He idolized three-time world champion Peter Sagan but never dared to dream of matching the Slovakian cyclist’s exploits. Then came Monday, when Girmay became the first Black African rider — actually the first Black cyclist from any continent — to win a Tour stage. “I never dreamed to be part of (the) Tour de France,” said Girmay, 24, after wiping away some tears. The timing couldn’t have been better. Next year, Rwanda will become the first African country to host cycling’s road world championships. “It’s our moment to show our strength and our potential,” Girmay said. “This is so important for cycling,” said Aike Visbeek, the performance director for Girmay’s Intermarche-Wanty team. “Now the world can see what is possible when we give these guys a chance.” And Girmay isn’t done yet. He’s now high up in the points standings for the Tour’s green jersey that goes to the race’s top sprinter. “It’s my time,” Girmay said. “Now we are really part of the big races. We have a lot victories so it’s our time, it’s our moment.”

Ronaldo’s European swan song

Cristiano Ronaldo has confirmed this year’s European Championship will be the last of his career. The Portugal superstar, who is 39, is playing at the Euros for a record sixth time and has helped his country reach the quarterfinals — where Kylian Mbappé and France await in Hamburg on Friday. Speaking to Portuguese public broadcaster RTP after the penalty-shootout victory over Slovenia on Monday, Ronaldo said: “It is, without doubt, my last European Championship. But I’m not emotional about that. I’m moved by all that football means — by the enthusiasm I have for the game, the enthusiasm for seeing my supporters, my family, the affection people have for me.” Ronaldo, who is one of the most prolific scorers in soccer history and has a record 14 goals at European Championships, said his main motivation now was “making people happy.” He was reduced to tears during the Slovenia game after having a penalty saved in extra time. “It’s not about leaving the world of football,” he said. “What else is there for me to do or win? It’s not going to come down to one point more or one point less.”

Murray out of Wimbledon singles

Andy Murray withdrew from singles at Wimbledon a little more than a week after surgery to remove a cyst from his spine, and the two-time men’s champion at the All England Club said he would make his farewell appearance at the tournament by playing doubles with his older brother, Jamie. “I’m disappointed. I wanted to play in the tournament, and I wanted to have a chance to go out there and walk out on my own on Centre Court again and give it another go. But I also was only going to do that if I felt like I could be competitive. And I didn’t feel like that today,” Murray said. The 37-year-old Murray — who has been planning to retire after the Paris Olympics, which start later this month — was supposed to face Tomas Machac at Centre Court on Tuesday in the first round of singles. Murray was replaced in the bracket by David Goffin, who lost during qualifying rounds last week. Murray won Wimbledon in 2013 and 2016; the first of those made him the first British men’s singles champion at the tournament in 77 years, and he was awarded a knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II after the second title. AP