Asgreen solos to Giro stage 14 win, Del Toro strengthens grip on pink jersey
Asgreen was part of an early breakaway trio but, after several riders were brought down in a crash which broke up the peloton, the Dane went for broke in the final kilometres and held off the chasing group.
Australian Kaden Groves (Alpecin–Deceuninck) outsprinted Dutchman Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) to take second place on the 195-km stage from Treviso to Nova Gorica in Slovenia.
Del Toro ((UAE Team Emirates) managed to avoid trouble and was with the chasing group which followed Asgreen over the line to increase his lead at the head of the general classification.
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The Guardian
17 hours ago
- The Guardian
Manchester United show patience and hope for big things from Benjamin Sesko
It has, for a while, appeared to be destiny. Benjamin Sesko's arrival at Manchester United was third time lucky for last season's Europa League finalists, having attempted to make a deal for the Slovenia striker when he was leaving Domžale in 2019 and again when he agreed to fly the Red Bull Salzburg nest in 2022, eventually joining up with RB Leipzig a year down the line. Now United have their still-only-22-year-old man and if Sesko has been feted in the inner circles of European football since his mid-teens, one could suggest the wait has not only be worthwhile but that it could work in favour of Ruben Amorim as he attempts to author a dramatic uptick in the fortunes of the English game's premier fallen giant. And now, the time for talking and for contemplating is done. United have wanted their headline No 9, and Sesko has wanted his chance to shine in England. Both have had their wishes come true and both need to prove that their partnership can be a fruitful one because, beyond the hype, club and player have a lot staked on this, and really need it to work. Sesko's debut is expected to come at home to Arsenal on Sunday. Ever since Sesko arrived at Leipzig in 2023, it was strongly suspected this moment would come. From even earlier, perhaps. Sesko arrived in the Red Bull universe in 2019, signing his Salzburg deal a few days after turning 16, less than a year after Erling Haaland had done the same. Haaland is a figure who frequently comes up when discussing and describing Sesko; not just because of entrusting his development to Red Bull's finishing school but because of their comparative athletic profiles. Both men are 6ft 5in, both have the build that would suggest they would be traditional target men and both have lightning pace that one doesn't expect from a player of that stature. Yet from there, they diverge. If the physical characteristics of Haaland and Sesko are slightly misleading, so is the suggestion that they are similar players. The Norwegian, from his first steps in the Salzburg first team, had looked like the goal machine he has proved to be so emphatically in Dortmund and Manchester. Sesko, his successor, never really looked like doing the same, even if he struck 16 times in 30 Austrian Bundesliga games in his final Salzburg season. What Sesko lacked in sheer goal volume, though, he made up for in his all-round game, which outstripped that of Haaland when he was in Austria (or Germany for that matter). In terms of running the channels, linking with teammates in the final third and being an authentic part of the team rather than just a penalty box predator, Salzburg-era Sesko was clearly the brighter bet. It was entirely legitimate, however, to wonder how regularly he might score in Germany after making the move to Leipzig. The big success of his time with Leipzig was his arrival as a consistent goalscorer in a top European league. A pair of six-week droughts, one in autumn, another in early spring, meant he ended up with a lower Bundesliga tally last term than in his debut season, 13 compared with 14, but his ability to be decisive and make proper use of his natural gifts – strength, speed, a thunderous shot, the ability to peel away from defenders with the adroitness of a smaller man and ability in the air when required – has been clear. Sesko's spell in the Bundesliga, like Haaland's, always felt like a loan in all but name and contractual detail. More than a finishing school, it was more a waiting room until an inevitable move to the Premier League. Mikel Arteta's longstanding interest in Sesko was no secret but the arrival of Andrea Berta at Arsenal (with his record of going big on established centre-forwards) shifted the club's focus to Viktor Gyökeres, which opened the door for United to try again for Šeško. Sign up to Football Daily Kick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football after newsletter promotion The past two young forwards with hoped-for big futures who were lured to Old Trafford – Rasmus Højlund and Joshua Zirkzee – have hardly been resounding successes, so there must be real scrutiny on whether United can be the right club for Sesko and whether the player has made a wise choice. If some have questioned his decision to join a club without European football this season – which would have been the same had he stayed at Leipzig – it is really about the medium term. Højlund and Zirkzee are two among countless examples of talented players who have arrived at Old Trafford and not become the players they were expected to be. One could argue that Newcastle were Sesko's safer bet, given that his aim will be for his Premier League trajectory to mirror that of Alexander Isak, transforming strong potential into all-conquering product. Amorim has successfully developed players beyond their wildest dreams (Gyökeres being the most famous example) so perhaps he can do so again, with a pre-season behind him and a squad more shaped to his liking. Sesko's temperament gives him a great chance; throughout this summer's transfer saga he behaved in an exemplary fashion at Leipzig, with the sporting director, Marcel Schäfer, underlining this week that 'his move is a loss both from a sporting and a personal perspective'. His success in the Premier League would be a significant corner turned for this latest United rebuild.
BreakingNews.ie
3 days ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Man Utd new boy Benjamin Sesko hoping to emulate his idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Manchester United's latest signing Benjamin Sesko is hoping to emulate his idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the club's famous shirt. Slovenia international Sesko completed his move to Old Trafford from RB Leipzig at the weekend in a deal worth up to £73.7million. Advertisement The 22-year-old revealed in his first interview on MUTV that former United striker Ibrahimovic, who spent almost two years at Old Trafford until 2018, was his hero. Manchester United's latest signing Benjamin Sesko has revealed Zlatan Ibrahimovic is his idol (Martin Rickett/PA) Sesko said: 'Since I've been small I've been watching him. Every single YouTube video that I can find because he's amazing for me. 'We don't have the same character, but I like to see the way he plays, the way he enjoys football, how everything works. 'It has been my dream to one day meet him, that would be great, so in general, he's my idol. Advertisement 'We have a different playing style, but if there is any situation, I try to do the same as he did.' Being a part of something special 💬✨ Benjamin's first interview as a Red will be available today, with #MUTV subscribers able to watch it before anyone else 💬 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 11, 2025 Sesko, who has made 41 senior appearances for his country, scored 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last season. He also revealed he admired other former United strikers, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. 'Van Persie and Rooney, all those kind of guys,' Sesko said. 'I've also been watching them, of course, on the videos. They have been great. Advertisement 'You can admire them a lot and I will also try to show myself in a good light here and try to help the team and the club to be as high as possible.' United completed their worst top-flight campaign in 51 years after finishing 15th in the Premier League table last season, but Sesko is convinced good times lie ahead. Benjamin's signing day 📸 — Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 10, 2025 Head coach Ruben Amorim's attacking options have also been boosted by the summer arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. 'For me the team is great, it's getting better and better,' Sesko said. 'I think it's just a great project in general and I can't wait to start, definitely. Advertisement 'Together you can grow a lot. It can give you a lot of fresh power, fresh energy and I think it's going to be exciting in general.' On his hopes for his first season at Old Trafford, Sesko added: 'Just that we get better, that we connect together in general and as a team try to grow and grow together, step by step. 'It's just a matter of time when we can fly high again.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- The Independent
Man Utd new boy Benjamin Sesko hoping to emulate his idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Manchester United's latest signing Benjamin Sesko is hoping to emulate his idol Zlatan Ibrahimovic in the club's famous shirt. Slovenia international Sesko completed his move to Old Trafford from RB Leipzig at the weekend in a deal worth up to £73.7million. The 22-year-old revealed in his first interview on MUTV that former United striker Ibrahimovic, who spent almost two years at Old Trafford until 2018, was his hero. Sesko said: 'Since I've been small I've been watching him. Every single YouTube video that I can find because he's amazing for me. 'We don't have the same character, but I like to see the way he plays, the way he enjoys football, how everything works. 'It has been my dream to one day meet him, that would be great, so in general, he's my idol. 'We have a different playing style, but if there is any situation, I try to do the same as he did.' Sesko, who has made 41 senior appearances for his country, scored 21 goals in all competitions for Leipzig last season. He also revealed he admired other former United strikers, Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney. 'Van Persie and Rooney, all those kind of guys,' Sesko said. 'I've also been watching them, of course, on the videos. They have been great. 'You can admire them a lot and I will also try to show myself in a good light here and try to help the team and the club to be as high as possible.' United completed their worst top-flight campaign in 51 years after finishing 15th in the Premier League table last season, but Sesko is convinced good times lie ahead. Head coach Ruben Amorim's attacking options have also been boosted by the summer arrivals of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo. 'For me the team is great, it's getting better and better,' Sesko said. 'I think it's just a great project in general and I can't wait to start, definitely. 'Together you can grow a lot. It can give you a lot of fresh power, fresh energy and I think it's going to be exciting in general.' On his hopes for his first season at Old Trafford, Sesko added: 'Just that we get better, that we connect together in general and as a team try to grow and grow together, step by step. 'It's just a matter of time when we can fly high again.'
