Merhawi will make history in the Giro d’Italia

Eritrea will make history once again, when Merhawi Kudus will participate in the Giro d’Italia.

Merhawi Kudus was the first black African in the Tour de France

Merhawi Kudus is one of Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka’s riders in the Giro d’Italia, which will start on Friday.

Merhawi will become the first black African to ride in all three Grand Tours (Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and Vuelta a Espana). Last year he became the first black African in the Tour de France, together with his countryman Daniel Teklehaimanot.

Merhawi has had a good start of the season, arguably the best an Eritrean rider ever have had. It’s highly possible that Merhawi will win a stage in the Giro. If that is to happen, he will be the first black person to win a stage in a Grand Tour and a World Tour race. Natnael Berhane were close to become the first black person to win a stage in a World Tour competition, when he came third in the third stage of the Tirreno – Adriatico.

The Giro d’Italia is the last Grand Tour an Eritrean rider hasn’t participated in.