Tom Pidcock wants team in own image — Pink Jersey would be perfect start
On paper, stage one of this year's Giro d'Italia has Tom Pidcock written all over it. The Grande Partenza — which begins on Friday in Durrës in Albania — is flat for 67 kilometres and then hilly for a further 93km. There is a punchy final climb at Surrel, with a maximum 13 per cent gradient, and then a 12km descent into the capital, Tirana. Will we see Pidcock in pink on Friday? Quite possibly.
Not that it will be easy. The other obvious contenders for the stage are Mads Pedersen — who had an impressive and slightly unlucky spring — and Wout van Aert. The Belgian's sudden lack of a sprint this season (and the time he's spent recovering from injuries at altitude this
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BBC News
15 hours ago
- BBC News
Duchess celebrates community spirit in Northamptonshire
A county's "unique history and creative energy" have been celebrated during a whistle-stop royal visit. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh began a busy day of engagements at Northampton Bike Park, seeing the positive impact the development has had on the local community since it opened in park was given a £250,000 investment from Sport England on behalf of the Places to Ride Holmes, chief executive of Northamptonshire Sport, said: "It was a real honour to welcome Her Royal Highness and to share the story of what has been a truly community-powered project." "This space has been created by and for local people, with the support of national partners to provide a fun, safe and inclusive place for everyone to ride," he said. The duchess met volunteers, local authority representatives and board members from Northamptonshire Sport - and spoke to pupils from Boothville Primary riders performed a mountain bike skills demonstration and concluded with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque. Nick Barr, head of participation at British Cycling, one of the funders of the bike park, said the long term goal of the facility was to achieve a "healthier, happier nation"."Enabling more young people and riders from diverse backgrounds to access the full breadth of the cycling disciplines is central to our long-term strategy," he said. During the duchess' visit to the county, she also marked the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire of Northampton and was presented with fire-themed artwork from local schoolchildren at the town's Market Square. She visited areas of the town centre linked to the fire's history, including All Saints Church. The duchess learned about its role in the town's recovery - and the connection to the annual Oak Apple Day commemorations. "This was a truly special day for West Northamptonshire, shining a spotlight on our county's unique history, creative energy," James Saunders Watson Esq, Lord-Lieutenant of Northamptonshire, said. The duchess also met girls from Northampton School rugby team to acknowledge the Women's Rugby World Cup coming to West Northamptonshire this summer. The visit ended at Northampton's historic Guildhall, where the duchess joined community, heritage and voluntary organisations. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Guardian
15 hours ago
- The Guardian
Iván Romeo breaks rivals' hearts to claim lead at Criterium du Dauphiné
Spain's Iván Romeo won the third stage of the Criterium du Dauphiné when he streaked clear at the end of a 207km run from Brioude, claiming the overall lead. Romeo surprised his breakaway companions, including the Dutch world champion Mathieu van der Poel, to drop them in the final kilometres and lead the dash into the town of Charantonnay. 'I've been thinking about this stage for a month now. I can hardly believe it. It was one of the hardest days of my life, I wasn't feeling well,' said time-trial specialist Romeo. 'But I followed my instincts in the final. It's the best day of the year for me. Hard work pays off.' It was the second win of the 21-year-old Movistar rider's career, and earned him the yellow leader's jersey on the eve of the first time-trial in this edition of the Dauphiné. Romeo completed the hilly run across the southeast of France in 4hr 34min 10sec. Colombian Astana rider Harold Tejada came in second at 14sec, with Frenchman Louis Barré of Intermarché completing the podium. The peloton, containing many of the race favourites, rolled in just over a minute later at the end of a day without any major incidents. One of those contenders for the general classification is Red Bull leader Florian Lipowitz – in the absence of last year's winner Primoz Roglic – who did well to slip into the breakaway and come in just outside the podium. The German sits fourth overall, with a 42sec advantage over ninth-placed Tadej Pogacar. The breakaway formed quickly after the start, and was composed of 13 riders. The first big break came on the Côte du Château Jaune, with its average gradient of more than 9%, situated 19km from the finish. After this final climb, only 10 riders remained amongst the contenders for the stage, and victory seemed to be in the grasp of Van der Poel – the fastest of the bunch. But Romeo had other ideas, attacking for the first time with 9km remaining before going again and quickly opening up a sizeable gap on the chasing pack. Wednesday's fourth stage will be a 17.4km time-trial between Charmes-sur-Rhône and Saint-Péray.
BBC News
15 hours ago
- BBC News
Romeo wins Dauphine stage three to take yellow jersey
Ivan Romeo rode solo to victory on stage three of the Criterium du Dauphine to claim the yellow leader's Movistar rider made a couple of attacks before going clear of a group of 10 riders with about 6km left in the 202.8km route from van der Poel led the chase group, but they had left it too late and Romeo crossed the line first in Charantonnay, near Lyon, some 14 seconds ahead of Harold Tejada, Louis Barre and Florian gave the the 21-year-old Spaniard his second senior professional win and meant he claimed the overall lead from Lidl-Trek's Jonathan Milan, who won stage two. "I don't believe it," said Romeo. "It was one of the toughest days of my life so far."The breakaway, it was so hard to get into it, and I wasn't feeling really good, so I waited to the last moment."I know in this kind of flat finish in a small break, I have good instinct, and that if they give me some seconds I can make it."I had this stage on my mind for a month. We've been doing altitude [training] at Sierra Nevada, working super hard with all the team, and they gave me this chance at the beginning of the week."Romeo was the under-23 time trial champion at last year's World Championships and Tuesday's success means he has a 17-second lead in the Dauphine's general classification standings heading into the time Tour de France and Giro d'Italia champion Tadej Pogacar is just over a minute back in ninth and will aim to close the gap as the eight-stage race heads into the mountains on Friday. Stage three results Ivan Romeo (Spa/Movistar) 4hrs 34mins 10secsHarold Tejada (Col/XDS Astana) +14secsLouis Barre (Fra/Intermarche-Wanty) Same timeFlorian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull-Bora-hansgrohe) Mathieu van der Poel (Ned/Alpecin-Deceuninck) +27secsAxel Laurance (Fra/Ineos Grenadiers) Same timeBrieuc Rolland (Fra/Groupama-FDJ)Julien Bernard (Fra/Lidl-Trek)Andreas Leknessund (Nor/Uno-X Mobility)Eddie Dunbar (Irl/Jayco-AlUla) +29secs
