In pictures: Gravel bike racing stars gather in Galloway
The Gralloch describes itself as the United Kingdom's premier gravel cycling event and is the first to be included in the UCI Gravel World Series.It has attracted some of the world's best riders to south west Scotland since it was first held in 2023.Alongside the elite competitive races it offered a non-competitive sportive this year for amateur cyclists to try out the course.It also puts on a wide range of entertainment across the days that it is held.
Women's race winner Neefjes praised the south of Scotland course."We had such a lovely day out," she said."With this weather and the atmosphere here it is absolutely one of my favourite races."So to win this one is so nice."
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BBC News
32 minutes ago
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Polvara stars for Aberdeen - but will he play more?
At the start of the week, rumours were swirling that Aberdeen midfielder Dante Polvara was a transfer target for Hibernian. Fans on social media were late Thursday, the American was the hero against 10-man FCSB in the Europa League, coming off the bench to spark a comeback from 2-0 down, as Aberdeen drew 2-2 in their play-off first midfielder is a fans' favourite at Pittodrie because of his warm personality, wholehearted displays and ability as a rounded Jimmy Thelin has used him sparingly so far this season, Polvara appearing for a combined 45 minutes as a substitute in Aberdeen's three games before American was introduced on 58 minutes against FCSB and played off the left, scoring a brilliant goal just three minutes later to revive Aberdeen's 25-year-old's performance helped cancel out the defensive mistakes which had undermined the Scottish Premiership side's display for an was a striking cameo which lays down the gauntlet to Thelin to pick him from the start in Bucharest next week. Polvara's 'huge' impact Scoring three minutes after coming on is the dream impact for any substitute, which is what the rangy Polvara it was not just the fact he scored but the quality of the goal ithself which was so impressive. A cross was guided behind him by Adil Aouchiche, and he reacted brilliantly to get to the ball awareness and agility to swivel and hit it first time off his left foot was even better, with the ball kissing the inside of the post on its way Polvara did not stop there. Four minutes later, his pinpoint cross teed up Ester Sokler, whose header went narrowly the death his sheer presence caused havoc in the box and, but for a good save, he might have won it for the American managed two shots, both on target, and created three chances, the joint most of any to Opta, he completed all 19 of his passes and won six of his eight duels, the joint most among Aberdeen players. He was everywhere."Polvara down that left-hand side was such an out ball," Aberdeen legend Willie Miller said on BBC Scotland. "He's a big strong unit. And the goal - he shouldn't be scoring from that position. Facing away from goal and he's able to manoeuvre himself to strike it. "That fired the crowd up and gave them the hope and optimism they could get something out of it."He made a huge difference. The aerial threat, the energy, the quality. He must be in the manager's thoughts to start next week." Will Polvara start the second leg? That is the key question. Polvara's time at Aberdeen has been constantly was sent on loan to Charleston in his homeland a year after signing in 2022, and only on his return did then manager Barry Robson give him a repaid the faith in the 2023-24 season, scoring against both Eintracht Frankfurt and PAOK in the Conference League as he started to become more of a pivotal figure.A hamstring tear last summer completely derailed his season as Thelin took charge, but even then he returned to make enough of an impact to help the team win the Scottish has been deployed as a centre-back, central midfielder, and a winger in his time at Pittodrie - versatility which managers love but which often makes it difficult to nail down a particular Thelin using a 4-2-3-1 system and preferring Sivert Heltne Nilsen and Ante Palaversa in the deeper roles and Aouchiche as the number 10 - along with traditional quick wingers out wide - Polvara starting would mean a change of tack from the Aberdeen was his impact on Thursday, though, Thelin may just be considering it, particularly as he showed he appears to be over his fitness those Hibs rumours surfaced, there were reports, external Polvara is set to be offered a new contract by Aberdeen, with his current deal up at the end of the more games would encourage the much-loved American to sign, as will more nights like Thursday at Pittodrie.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Not quite McGinn but Mulligan making name at Hibs
To be compared to one of Hibernian's best players of this century shows just how strong a start Josh Mulligan has made to life at Easter midfielder only joined in the summer from Dundee, having also been linked with Rangers, and has instantly made an impact on David Gray's much so that some have talked about him in the same breath as Scotland and Aston Villa talisman John McGinn, who won the Scottish Cup during his formative years at comparisions are, obviously, fanciful at this stage - something the Mulligan himself has acknowledged - but the 22-year-old late goal against Legia Warsaw at Easter Road has given his new fans an unlikely injection of hope for the second was a clear man of the match in the 2-1 defeat against the Poles on Thursday and it's not unfeasible that he he could join McGinn and team-mate Kieron Bowie in Steve Clarke's next Scotland squad, set to be announced on Monday. 'Eye-catching' midfielder living up to billing 'Eye-catching' was how Gray described Mulligan when he arrived in the summer, and the 22-year-old has only continued to win over the fans with his tops the charts when it comes to successful dribbles, and ranks highly for touches in the opposition box and duels that boils down to is a box-to-box midfielder who not only gets stuck in, but drives forward and gets Hibs into the right areas of the pitch."Looks like a brilliant signing," said Hibs' fan David when BBC Sport Scotland asked for opinions on Mulligan's arrival. "A very versatile player who can play in multiple positions, so it will be very interesting to see how he settles in.""Brilliant signing," added Alex. "Good young Scottish talent with good experience at a young age. He will thrive at Hibs."Thrive is the word. Although he was rested from the starting XI against Livingston at the weekend, he came on in the 82nd minute to score the second goal - an absolute screamer from outside the box that rattled in off a been moved between midfield and right wing-back during his time at Dundee, it's unsurprising that goals never featured heavily in his previous he seems to have added that dimension to his game, having been allowed by Gray to roam forward in attack, which continues to excel in his nascent days at Easter Road. Mulligan 'thinking about miss the whole game' His late goal against Legia - a back-post rebound after his initial shot had been blocked at close range - has given Hibs a chance in Poland next head coach Gray was quick to point out, they've already produced fine performances away to Midtjylland in Denmark and Partizan in Mulligan was quick to admit that he was just relieved to score, having passed up a sitter early on in the game against the Polish side, who reached the last eight of this competition last term."I missed one in the first couple of minutes and, to be honest, I was thinking about it the whole game," Mulligan told BBC Scotland. "We stayed in the game and that goal there could prove to be vital so I'm looking forward to the next leg. It's still half time in the tie."They were a decent side and it's going to take a really good performance. The boys will have to give everything."
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
We're still alive and kicking! Aberdeen fightback stops a painful week for Scottish football going from bad to bleak
Aberdeen produced a stirring fightback for a draw against FCSB just as it seemed that Scottish football's week was going to go from bad to bleak. With Celtic and Rangers both having struggled in their respective Champions League play-offs, it was the Dons and Hibs' turn - with the Easter Road club losing 2-1 to Legia Warsaw in their Conference League play-off. The Pittodrie club were two goals down at the start of the second half in their Europa League clash but a raft of substitutions from Jimmy Thelin turned the tie against the Romanians on its head. It had looked to be slipping away from the Scottish Cup winners when the Romanian champions went ahead in the 32nd minute and then overcame the dismissal of Juri Cisotti soon afterwards to double their lead in the first minute of the second half. However, goals from substitutes Dante Polvara and Ester Sokler in the closing half-hour brought the Dons level and ensured there is all to play for in the second leg in Bucharest next Thursday. It was Thelin's first European match in charge of the Dons and now he wants more in Romania after praising a packed Pittodrie. He said: 'It's going to be a totally different game, they're at home, but I am optimistic. The tie is alive. 'We have given ourselves a chance and that's the most important thing after being two goals down. Our fans were the difference - they have given us a chance for the second game. 'I was really proud of that, how we created this atmosphere because it's difficult when you are two down and the way they'd scored the goals. 'In that way I am really proud of the players and the supporters. It has given us a chance. 'They used the situations with top quality, they didn't miss, but we can't give them these chances in the game. 'We learned a lot about ourselves, we have one week to prepare and bring a much better, more stable performance. We created a lot of chances, but we have to be more consistent within the game. 'Dante's goal was top level and Ester's with his working capacity plus the goal was important for us. 'I was pleased with the passion they showed because it was a difficult task, especially when you give a goal after 50 seconds in the second half. 'We never stopped believing and that is a really strong thing to have. But we shouldn't have made it so difficult for ourselves.' And goal hero Sokler, who netted in the final minute, said: 'I'm happy with the goal, that's the striker's job, but I'm disappointed to not get more from this game. 'We have it in our hands for next Thursday. Maybe I could score one or two more, but this is football and we go again next Thursday.' FCSB boss Elias Charalambous was unhappy that three of his players - Siyabonga Ngezana, Baba Alhassan and Risto Radunovic - were not given visas in time for the game. He said: 'I don't know exactly what happened but things have to be solved easier. 'We cannot ask for visas five or six days before and have no results because players are not available. 'People have to find solutions, not us, the people who are responsible - UEFA. 'The players came here to play. Everything happens for a reason. The players made this travel and if we knew they would not play they would have stayed to train. 'The game in Bucharest is 50-50 as Aberdeen have quality.'
