Seattle v Minnesota - Highlights
The SBS Cycling Podcast is a punchy podcast covering the world of professional cycling, coming to you during the Tour de France, Giro d'Italia and Vuelta a España.
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News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Swiatek and Sabalenka set up French Open clash as Alcaraz in hunt for semis
Three-time defending champion Iga Swiatek set up a blockbuster French Open semi-final clash with world number one Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday, with men's holder Carlos Alcaraz also chasing a last-four berth. Swiatek, the fifth seed, got past 13th-seeded Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-1, 7-5 in Paris after top women's seed Sabalenka won a nervy quarter-final against Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3. "(Aryna) has been having a great season so I'm not going to lie, it is going to be a tough match. But I'm happy for the challenge," said Swiatek after reeling off her 26th win in a row at the French Open. Both players have shared the number one ranking between them since April 2022. Sabalenka ended Swiatek's 11-month reign as world number one last October but the Pole leads 8-4 in their previous meetings. World number five Swiatek has been struggling for her best form and has not reached a final since winning the French Open title last year. But she gave Svitolina little opportunity on her favoured clay surface, breaking in the fourth game to ease through the first set. The pair exchanged consecutive breaks of serve early in the second set, before Swiatek forced the breakthrough at 5-5 with a powerful forehand down the line. She then sealed the win with back-to-back aces. Swiatek is aiming to become the first woman to win four straight Roland Garros crowns since Suzanne Lenglen 102 years ago. - Zheng streak over - Earlier, reigning US Open champion Sabalenka defied the windy conditions and Zheng to avenge her recent loss to the Chinese star in Rome. "The last tournament I was pretty exhausted," said Sabalenka. "Today I was more fresh I was ready to battle." Sabalenka once again got the upper hand on Zheng, who had been on a winning streak of 10 matches on the Paris clay after her run to Olympic gold last year. Zheng broke and led 4-2 in the first set. But numerous unforced errors -- 31 in total -- allowed the Belarusian to come back. The second set was also tight before Sabalenka broke back to lead 4-3, taking advantage of her opponent's errors. "I gave her the chance, so easy," said Zheng, who has lost seven times in eight meetings to Sabalenka, including in last year's Australian Open final. Madrid Open champion Sabalenka feels she is ready to go all the way in Paris, where her previous best performance was reaching the semi-finals two years ago. "It's high-level matches. I'm super excited to go out there and to fight and to do everything I need to get the win," said Sabalenka of her tie against Swiatek. - Alcaraz faces 'tough' challenge - Spaniard Alcaraz, the men's second seed, will go head to head with American Tommy Paul in Tuesday's night session on Court Philippe Chatrier. Alcaraz is through to the last eight for the fourth year running and aims to become the third man this century to defend his title, after Gustavo Kuerten and Rafael Nadal. The 22-year-old has dropped a set in each of the past three rounds but holds a 4-2 career record against Paul, the US 12th seed who Alcaraz beat in the quarter-finals of the Paris Olympics on the way to a silver medal last August. "I remember that every match that I've played against him he was really tough," said Alcaraz. "His level is really high right now. He has a lot of confidence." If Alcaraz gets past Paul he will meet the winner of Tuesday's other men's quarter-final between in-form Italian Lorenzo Musetti and Frances Tiafoe. Musetti has been one of the form players on clay this season, reaching at least the last four in all three of the principal warm-up events ahead of the French Open. Both Musetti and US 15th seed Tiafoe are appearing at this stage of Roland Garros for the first time. Tiafoe, twice a US Open semi-finalist, has yet to drop a set in Paris and is confident he can go even further. Both Paul and Tiafoe are the first US men's quarter-finalists at the event since Andre Agassi in 2003.
News.com.au
14 hours ago
- News.com.au
Max Verstappen speaks out after ‘unacceptable' George Russell incident
Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has spoken out following his controversial incident with George Russell at the Spanish Grand Prix. The race exploded on Lap 63 at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya when Verstappen steered his Red Bull into Russell's Mercedes as they battled for fourth position. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. Verstappen was advised by his team to give Russell the place back when all hell broke loose. The 27-year-old eventually, begrudgingly, let the door open for Russell to overtake him around the outside of turn five — only to then dart into the side of Russell's Mercedes W16 as the British driver looked to swoop around the bend. Russell was heard saying on team radio: 'What the f***'. Verstappen offered up next to nothing when speaking to the media regarding the incident which saw him slugged with a 10-second time penalty. While he did not deny that his move — with whom he was involved in a war of words last season — was deliberate, he refused to dive any deeper … until Monday when he took to Instagram. 'We had an exciting strategy and good race in Barcelona, till the safety car came out,' Verstappen wrote. 'Our tyre choice to the end and some moves after the safety car restart fuelled my frustration, leading to a move that was not right and shouldn't have happened. 'I always give everything out there for the team and emotions can run high. You win some together, you lose some together. 'See you in Montreal.' While many of Verstappen's loyal followers were quick to forgive the reigning world champ over the act, many were left calling for him to be hit with a race ban. Former world champion Nico Rosberg labelled the moment from Verstappen 'completely unacceptable' and believed the Red Bull driver should have been shown a black flag and disqualified. 'It looked like a very intentional retaliation,' Rosberg said on Sky Sports. 'Wait for the opponent, go ramming into him, just like you felt the other guy rammed into you at Turn 1. 'That's something which is extremely unacceptable and I think the rules would be a black flag. If you wait for your opponent to bang into him, that's a black flag.' Sky Sports F1 analyst Anthony Davidson also said Verstappen's move appeared to be intentional. 'I don't understand why Max slows down after Turn 4,' he said. 'Then, suddenly decides, 'No I'm not going to let him through'. 'It's almost like he decides, 'No, I'm not going to let him by at all'. He carries such excessive speed into the corner and he's not out of control when doing this and dive-bombs into the corner and hits the Mercedes hard. 'George is immediately on the radio to say 'what on Earth was that?' 'I think it's intentional. And I don't like to see that.' While Verstappen avoided being disqualified from the race, he now sits on the brink of a race ban after being handed three penalty points from the FIA. It takes him up to 11 points. Drivers receive a racing ban if they collect 12 points over a 12-month period. The next time the four-time world champion will see any of his penalty points expire will be on June 30. That means Verstappen will need to be on his best behaviour at both the Canada Grand Prix on June 15 and then Red Bull's home race at the Austrian Grand Prix on June 29. Picking up another penalty point in Montreal would mean a ban for Verstappen at the Red Bull Ring, while a point in the second race would mean he is banned from the British Grand Prix on July 6.
SBS Australia
16 hours ago
- SBS Australia
The Italian Redemption : Yates Turns the Giro Tide
The latest episode of the podcast with Christophe Mallet and Dave McKenzie dives into the thrilling final stages of the Giro d'Italia. Macka, stunned by the action, calls it the wildest finish he's ever seen in 20 years of commentary. The hosts spotlight Chris Harper's pivotal stage win and Simon Yates's stunning comeback, calling it a defining moment in his career. In 20 years of commentary, I don't think I've seen anything as crazy as that. Dave McKenzie Tactics take centre stage as the duo analyses team strategies, especially those of UAE Team Emirates, and how key decisions could have shifted the race outcome. The conversation also explores the role of race radios and evolving team dynamics in modern cycling. Del Toro could have won this. 100% Dave McKenzie The episode wraps by looking ahead to the Tour de France, speculating how Giro results might shape strategies for the next Grand Tour.
