Milan grabs Dauphine stage victory and overall lead
The 1.93m (6-foot-4) 87kg Milan had to battle to keep up on a hilly 204.6km run through central France from Premilhat. When the pack hit the home straight, he rocketed away from his rivals to collect a 10-second victory bonus and the yellow jersey.
"That was really tough," said Milan. "I was dropped at one point and I was really on the limit, but I have to say thanks to my teammates because they brought me back and guided me until the last metres."
Briton Fred Wright was second and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel third.
Pogacar and his main rivals for overall victory, both in the Criterium and the Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, rolled home safely in the main pack just behind Mlan.
Pogacar, who collected a 10-second bonus on Sunday, has the same overall time as Mian, but braked hard in the final metres to surrender places and hand the Italian the tie-break edge and the daily media responsibilities that go with the yellow jersey.
The eight-day race, with four hilly stages, a time trial and three final days in the Alps, has attracted an A-list roster of 154 riders from 22 teams.
It offers Tour de France contenders a chance to hone their form and gain a psychological edge before the main event starts on July 5.
Pogacar, who won his third Tour de France last year ending Vingegaard's two-year reign, had struck the first blow the previous day, edging the Dane to take the opening stage and the overall lead.
On Monday, support riders for Pogacar's Team UAE and Vingegaard's Visma spent much of the stage jostling, sometimes angrily, for position at the front of the pack.
The stage was briefly animated when local-boy Romain Bardet, riding the final race of his 14-year professional career, launched an attack on the last small climb just before a corner where his fan club was waiting with a huge banner.
The 34-year-old was caught with 10 kilometres to go as Milan's Lidl-Trek team took control.
The Frenchman will have another chance on Tuesday when stage three starts from his home town Brioude for a hilly 207.2km run to Charantonnay.
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France 24
8 hours ago
- France 24
Milan grabs Dauphine stage victory and overall lead
The 1.93m (6-foot-4) 87kg Milan had to battle to keep up on a hilly 204.6km run through central France from Premilhat. When the pack hit the home straight, he rocketed away from his rivals to collect a 10-second victory bonus and the yellow jersey. "That was really tough," said Milan. "I was dropped at one point and I was really on the limit, but I have to say thanks to my teammates because they brought me back and guided me until the last metres." Briton Fred Wright was second and Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel third. Pogacar and his main rivals for overall victory, both in the Criterium and the Tour de France, Jonas Vingegaard and Remco Evenepoel, rolled home safely in the main pack just behind Mlan. Pogacar, who collected a 10-second bonus on Sunday, has the same overall time as Mian, but braked hard in the final metres to surrender places and hand the Italian the tie-break edge and the daily media responsibilities that go with the yellow jersey. The eight-day race, with four hilly stages, a time trial and three final days in the Alps, has attracted an A-list roster of 154 riders from 22 teams. It offers Tour de France contenders a chance to hone their form and gain a psychological edge before the main event starts on July 5. Pogacar, who won his third Tour de France last year ending Vingegaard's two-year reign, had struck the first blow the previous day, edging the Dane to take the opening stage and the overall lead. On Monday, support riders for Pogacar's Team UAE and Vingegaard's Visma spent much of the stage jostling, sometimes angrily, for position at the front of the pack. The stage was briefly animated when local-boy Romain Bardet, riding the final race of his 14-year professional career, launched an attack on the last small climb just before a corner where his fan club was waiting with a huge banner. The 34-year-old was caught with 10 kilometres to go as Milan's Lidl-Trek team took control. The Frenchman will have another chance on Tuesday when stage three starts from his home town Brioude for a hilly 207.2km run to Charantonnay.
France 24
15 hours ago
- France 24
Beaten Sinner extends lead on Alcaraz at top of ATP rankings
Sinner, who lost to Alcaraz in the semi-finals last year, gained 500 points for reaching this year's final. Spaniard Alcaraz lifted the title for the second straight year, gained no points and remained second. Germany's Alexander Zverev remained third despite his quarter-final elimination to Novak Djokovic. At 38, Serb Djokovic, who was unable to take a set from Sinner in the semi-finals despite a strong fight, climbed one place to fifth, still behind Jack Draper. The Briton also climbed one place to a career-high fourth after his memorable loss in the round of 16 to Alexander Bublik. The latter, who was then swept aside by Sinner, jumped 19 places to 43rd. Italy's Lorenzo Musetti, forced to retire against Alcaraz in the semi-final, continued his ascent with another place gain to reach world number six for the first time. Taylor Fritz, eliminated in the first round, dropped three places to seven with fellow American Tommy Paul climbing to eighth, his best ranking ever. Casper Ruud, a two-time French Open finalist, dropped eight places to No. 16 in the ATP rankings after losing in the second round this year. ATP rankings: 1. Jannik Sinner (ITA) 10,880 pts 2. Carlos Alcaraz (ESP) 8,850 3. Alexander Zverev (GER) 6,385 4. Jack Draper (GBR) 4,800 (+1) 5. Novak Djokovic (SRB) 4,630 (+1) 6. Lorenzo Musetti (ITA) 4,560 (+1) 7. Taylor Fritz (USA) 4,485 (-3) 8. Tommy Paul (USA) 3,510 (+4) 9. Holger Rune (DEN) 3,440 (+1) 10. Alex De Minaur (AUS) 3,285 (-1) 11. Daniil Medvedev (RUS) 3,100 12. Ben Shelton (USA) 3,080 (+1) 13. Frances Tiafoe (USA) 3,015 (+3) 14. Arthur Fils (FRA) 2,935 15. Andrey Rublev (RUS) 2,920 16. Casper Ruud (NOR) 2,905 (-8) 17. Jakub Mensik (CZE) 2,322 (+2) 18. Francisco Cerundolo (ARG) 2,285 19. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) 2,205 (-2) 20. Ugo Humbert (FRA) 2,195 (+1) © 2025 AFP
France 24
a day ago
- France 24
Alcaraz outlasts Sinner in all-time great French Open final
Reigning champion Alcaraz rallied from the brink of defeat to overcome world number one Sinner 4-6, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (10/2) to clinch his fifth Grand Slam title after five hours and 29 minutes. The 22-year-old Spaniard is now unbeaten in five Grand Slam finals after snapping Sinner's 20-match winning run at the majors. "I'm pretty sure you'll be champion not once, but many many times. It's a privilege to share the court with you in every tournament. Making history with you," Alcaraz said, addressing Sinner after the final. Alcaraz pulled off his first ever comeback from two sets down to stun Sinner in the longest Roland Garros final in history. It easily eclipsed the 1982 final in Paris when Mats Wilander triumphed in four sets over Guillermo Vilas in 4hr 42min. Alcaraz becomes the third youngest man to win five Grand Slams -- after Bjorn Borg and compatriot Rafael Nadal -- following an incredible duel between the two stars of a new generation. Sinner fell agonisingly short of a third successive Grand Slam crown after last year's US Open title and back-to-back Australian Open triumphs. "It's easier to play than talking now," said a devastated Sinner. "We tried our best today, we gave everything we had. "I won't sleep very well tonight but it's OK." He suffered his fifth straight loss to Alcaraz in what was their first meeting in a Grand Slam final -- and the first championship match at a major between two men born in the 2000s. Alcaraz leads 8-5 overall having also beaten Sinner to win in Rome, where the Italian returned to competition in May after a three-month doping ban. Alcaraz put the pressure on Sinner by carving out three break points to start Saturday's final, but the Italian resisted and soon had a chance of his own. He couldn't take advantage and found himself having to fend off two more break points at 1-1, producing clutch serves to grind out another tough hold. Alcaraz's persistence paid off in the fifth game when he broke to nudge 3-2 ahead, only for the Spaniard to immediately hand the lead back. The unshakeable Sinner threatened to break again at 4-3, with a brief lapse from Alcaraz eventually enabling Sinner to snatch the first set. Sinner hit the accelerator to start the second set, surging 3-0 in front. After facing seven break points in the opener, he tightened up considerably on serve. But Alcaraz brought up his first break point of the second set with Sinner serving for a two-set lead, duly pouncing on the opportunity to check his rival's momentum. With the swagger back in his step at a crucial juncture, Alcaraz sought to bring the crowd into the contest but Sinner remained unflustered in the tie-break. The first five points went with serve before Sinner whipped a forehand down the line and Alcaraz then steered an attempted drop-shot wide. A tame return into the net presented Sinner with four set points. Alcaraz saved two before Sinner unleashed a blistering cross-court forehand to move to within a set of the trophy. Alcaraz pulls off miraculous comeback It all looked to be going his way when he broke Alcaraz to begin the third set, but the Spaniard refused to surrender his title quietly and rattled off four games on the bounce to lead 4-1. Alcaraz lost serve at 5-3 but promptly broke to love to force a fourth set, lapping up the roars of the Court Philippe Chatrier crowd. That ended Sinner's run of 31 consecutive sets won at Grand Slams. Alcaraz saved a break point in the third game amid a series of holds as Sinner doubled down. The Italian appeared to be closing in on victory when he broke at 3-3 as the finish line neared. But Alcaraz had other ideas as he staved off three championship points at 3-5 and then broke Sinner when he tried to seal the title on his serve. Successive aces spurred a reinvigorated Alcaraz on in the tie-break and into a decisive fifth set. A despairing Sinner lost his serve right away and his gloom deepened as Alcaraz saved two break points to pull 3-1 ahead, but incredibly there was another twist. Alcaraz this time faltered with the title within his grasp as Sinner broke at 3-5 to spark a three-game burst that left the Spaniard needing to hold serve to prolong the final. He kept his nerve to set up a 10-point tie-break, which Alcaraz ran away with as the outrageous shotmaking continued until the very end when he took his first championship point with a sizzling forehand down the line. © 2025 AFP
