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Reuters
9 minutes ago
- Reuters
Wellens wins Stage 15 to underscore UAE's Tour control
CARCASSONNE, France, July 20 (Reuters) - Tim Wellens overpowered his breakaway companions in brutal fashion to claim victory on Stage 15 of the Tour de France, offering yet another sign - if one was needed - of UAE Team Emirates-XRG's iron grip on the race. The Belgian national champion, one of defending champion and overall leader Tadej Pogacar's domestiques, jumped away from a leading group of six some 43 kilometres from the finish and never looked back, beating compatriot Victor Campenaerts (Visma-Lease a Bike) by 1:28. France's Julian Alaphilippe took third place, nine seconds further back. "It's a very special victory, everybody wants to ride the Tour but not everybody wins on the Tour de France," said Wellens. "Suddenly there was a big crash... I followed one move and I was in the breakaway. "I had an opportunity, I took it and I had legs to finish it." Wellens' master, Pogacar, still leads Denmark's Jonas Vingegaard by 4:13 in the overall standings, edging 169.3km closer to a fourth Tour title after the hilly ride between Muret and Carcassonne. German Florian Lipowitz sits in third place, 7:53 off the pace. "I'm actually happier than for any of my wins," said Pogacar, who added he was recovering from a sore throat. "With all the ice we're having (to cool down from the heat) and the air conditioning, half of the peloton has a sore throat, it's a pain." The top riders stayed quiet all day, Pogacar slowing down after Lipowitz and Vingegaard were caught up behind an early crash. It was a hectic stage with relentless attacks from riders looking to capitalise on the rare opportunity of a victory as flat and mountain stages are the exclusive domain of top sprinters and general classification contenders. The group who would fight for the win took shape after more than 100 kilometres and Wellens was not only the stronger rider, he was also the smartest. Having done very little in the breakaway - one of the perks of riding for the yellow jersey holder - Wellens attacked on a slightly uphill section, catching everyone off guard. The 34-year-old attacked and the chasing group quickly disappeared into the background as he sped to his maiden Tour de France win to complete his grands tours stage victory collection after prevailing in the Giro d'Italia in 2016 and 2018 and in the Vuelta a Espana in 2020. Monday is a rest day on the Tour de France, in Montpellier.
The Guardian
9 minutes ago
- The Guardian
WFW: Berger's brilliance denies France and Spain march on
Rate, review, and share on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Audioboom, Mixcloud, Acast and Stitcher, and join the conversation on Facebook, Twitter and email. On the podcast today: Germany knock France out in an unforgettable quarter-final that had everything — a red card for hair pulling, two disallowed goals, penalties galore, and Ann-Katrin Berger producing a heroic performance in goal to seal a 6-5 shootout win. The panel discusses all the drama of the game, marvels at Ann-Katrin Berger and looks forward to Germany's semi-final tie. Elsewhere, hosts Switzerland bow out after a spirited display in Bern as World Champions Spain progress 2-0 thanks to goals from Athenea del Castillo and Clàudia Pina. With the Swiss out, how will this tournament shape the future of women's football in the country? Plus: a look ahead to two massive semi-finals — England v Italy in Geneva and Germany v Spain in Zürich — where the old guard and rising forces collide. Who holds the edge? The panel break down key battles, squad depth, and whether Germany can overcome their suspension crisis. Also today: WAFCON semi-final updates, transfer news including Liverpool's move for Sam Kerr (the Scottish one), and Newcastle's latest signing. Please note: This episode was recorded before the news of the racist abuse directed at Jess Carter emerged. Sign up for our weekly women's football newsletter – all you need to do is search 'Moving the Goalposts sign up' or follow this link. Support the Guardian here. You can also find Football Weekly on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
The Guardian
9 minutes ago
- The Guardian
Berger's brilliance denies France and Spain march on – Women's Football Weekly
On the podcast today: Germany knock France out in an unforgettable quarter-final that had everything — a red card for hair pulling, two disallowed goals, penalties galore, and Ann-Katrin Berger producing a heroic performance in goal to seal a 6-5 shootout win. The panel discusses all the drama of the game, marvels at Ann-Katrin Berger and looks forward to Germany's semi-final tie. Elsewhere, hosts Switzerland bow out after a spirited display in Bern as world champions Spain progress 2-0 thanks to goals from Athenea del Castillo and Clàudia Pina. With the Swiss out, how will this tournament shape the future of women's football in the country? Plus: a look ahead to two massive semi-finals — England v Italy in Geneva and Germany v Spain in Zürich — where the old guard and rising forces collide. Who holds the edge? The panel break down key battles, squad depth, and whether Germany can overcome their suspension crisis. Also today: Wafcon semi-final updates, transfer news including Liverpool's move for Sam Kerr (the Scottish one), and Newcastle's latest signing. Please note: This episode was recorded before the news of the racist abuse directed at Jess Carter emerged. Sign up for our weekly women's football newsletter – all you need to do is search 'Moving the Goalposts sign up' or follow this link. Support the Guardian here.
