
Cycling-Belgium's Merlier edges Milan in photo finish after crash-marred stage
FRANCE (Reuters) -Tim Merlier won the third stage of the Tour de France on Monday after a sprint finish that resulted in a number of riders crashing saw the Belgian edge just ahead of Jonathan Milan.
The Soudal Quick-Step rider needed a photo finish to confirm he ended narrowly in front of Italian Milan at the finish line in the coastal city of Dunkirk.
The stage took a dramatic turn 60km from the end when Belgian rider Jasper Philipsen withdrew from the Tour following a heavy crash.
The peloton rode closely together for most of the 178.3 km flat stage from Valenciennes to Dunkirk.
Seemingly cautious, the riders held back from making any decisive moves, with nearly the entire group staying in the peloton until the final stretch, setting up a mass sprint finish that ended with several riders crashing in the closing metres.
Germany's Phil Bauhaus of Bahrain Victorious was third.
(Reporting by Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Ken Ferris)
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The Star
22 minutes ago
- The Star
Tennis-Sinner seeks redemption, Alcaraz a three-peat in Wimbledon final showdown
LONDON (Reuters) -For Jannik Sinner, Sunday's Wimbledon final offers a chance of redemption; for Carlos Alcaraz it is an opportunity to join an elite club of men who have won the title three years in succession. There are many other plot lines but above all the showdown will help to cement a rivalry that could dominate tennis for a decade. Fears of a void in the wake of the golden era of Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic were real -- surely nothing would ever be the same again after an age in which they took the sport to unimaginable heights. From 2003 to 2023, the trio accumulated 66 Grand Slam titles between them and their rivalries were complex and compelling in equal measure. Djokovic is not done yet but a new era has begun and it promises to be just as spectacular as the previous one. Between them, Alcaraz and Sinner have shared the last six Grand Slam titles and their mesmeric clash last month in the longest-ever French Open final is being touted as one of the greatest of all time. The Spaniard came back from two sets down and saved three match points on his way to a fifth Grand Slam title, in the process taking his head-to-head record over Sinner to 8-4, including winning all of the last four. It was a painful defeat for world number one Sinner but he has not had to wait long to try to set the record straight. "He is the favourite. He won here two times in a row. He's again in the final. It's very tough to beat him on grass but I like these challenges," the 23-year-old Sinner said of Alcaraz after beating Djokovic to reach his first Wimbledon final. "This is the second consecutive Grand Slam that we are in the final and playing each other, which is great from my side. I believe it's good for the sport." Sinner's three Grand Slam titles have all come on hard courts, two in Melbourne and one in New York. Alcaraz's major titles have come on all the sport's surfaces, suggesting a more complete game, but Sinner's performance against Ben Shelton in the quarters and Djokovic in the semis, show just how suited his game is to grass. His laser-like ground strokes, powerful serve and his ability to turn defence into attack in the blink of an eye were all on show and Alcaraz knows he faces a challenge every bit as tough as Roland Garros on Centre Court on Sunday. The only other time they have met on grass was at Wimbledon in 2022 when Sinner won their last-16 clash in four sets. "I expect that on Sunday, just to be on the limit, to be on the line," the 22-year-old Alcaraz, who is on a 24-match winning streak, said. "I just hope not to be five hours and a half on court again. But if have to, I will." Should Alcaraz prevail he would join Bjorn Borg, Pete Sampras, Roger Federer and Djokovic as the only men to win the Wimbledon title three years in a row and he would also surpass Nadal's two Wimbledon crowns. Both players have shown vulnerability during the fortnight. Alcaraz flirted with a shock first-round defeat against Italian Fabio Fognini, needing five sets. Sinner trailed by two sets against Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth-round after hurting his elbow, but was reprieved when the Bulgarian retired hurt. Sinner, the third Italian to reach a Wimbledon singles final after Matteo Berrettini in 2021 and Jasmine Paolini last year, has looked unhindered by his elbow despite wearing a compression sleeve on his right arm in his last two matches. "I think we are handling this small problem at the moment very well," he said. So the stage is set for a fitting end to a sun-filled Wimbledon fortnight and if Sunday's duel is even remotely as compelling as the one in Paris, we are in for a treat. (Reporting by Martyn Herman; editing by Clare Fallon)


New Straits Times
27 minutes ago
- New Straits Times
Sinner believes Wimbledon showdown with favourite Alcaraz will be different
LONDON: Top seed Jannik Sinner said he would not be in the Wimbledon final if he still harboured the hurt from his heart-breaking defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the French Open final and believed tomorrow's meeting would be different. Sinner had three match points at Roland Garros before Alcaraz came roaring back to defend his crown and the Italian was left licking his wounds after the near-5-1/2 hour tug of war, which many fans labelled as one of the greatest finals. A month on, Sinner has successfully left that loss in the rear-view mirror and is into his first Wimbledon final, where he will look to take revenge on Alcaraz. "If it would be a lot in my head, I would not be in the situation to play a final again," Sinner told reporters after beating Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 in Friday's semi-final. "I'm very happy to once again share the court with Carlos. It's going to be difficult, I know that. But I'm looking forward to it. I try always to put myself in these kinds of situations I really love. Sundays in every tournament are special. "But this is a question I cannot answer because I think it's something you feel before the match and also during the match. I can give you answers after. But no, it's a different match. I'm looking forward to it." Sinner, who has lost his last five matches against Alcaraz to trail 4-8 in their head-to-head meetings, said the Spaniard was the favourite heading into their All England Club meeting but he would do his best to turn around his fortunes. "We evolve as players and we get better as competitors. So of course, you try to do something different. You don't want to be predictable on the court, so we're going to prepare in the best possible way," Sinner said. "I believe when the match and the rhythm is that high, you play a lot with your gut feeling too, or what you feel like in that moment. Obviously, the surface is different. "He is the favourite. He won here two times in a row. He's again in the final. It's very tough to beat him on grass but I like these challenges. I like to go head-to-head and see what I can do and what I can reach." - REUTERS


The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Rugby-Wales end long-running losing streak as they edge Japan
KOBE, Japan (Reuters) -Wales brought their record 18-match losing streak to an end with a 31-22 victory over Japan in the second test at Misaki Park Stadium on Saturday, holding on for a win after another nervy performance. Wales outscored their hosts four tries to three to register their first success in 644 days, since the last World Cup in 2023, and square the two-test series 1-1 after losing 24-19 in Kitakyushu last weekend. Welsh relief was palpable as they again started the game well but unlike last Saturday held onto their halftime lead, despite being under much pressure in the second half. Kieran Hardy scored two tries and Josh Adams and Dan Edwards the other two while Edwards kicked over a penalty and three conversions. Shuhei Takeuchi, Warner Dearns and Dylan Riley were Japan's try scorers with Lee Seungsin putting over a penalty and two conversions. Wales went ahead in the ninth minute as they won a turnover in midfield and then spread the ball out wide, with Ben Thomas cutting inside to release Blair Murray, who gained ground before putting Adams over for a try. The flying winger should have had a second try 13 minutes later asAaron Wainwright hacked the ball forward and Adams outsprinted the defence only for the ball to spill out of his hands as he attempted to go over the try line. ButHardy did not take long to increase Wales' lead, darting over in the 27th minute as the visitors hammered away at the Japan line from a lineout maul. Adams and Hardy then combined as Wales outran the home defence to score a third try before half-time, taking advantage of Japan being down a man after Faulua Makisi was yellow carded. With Wales also dominating the set pieces, a frustrated Japan coach Eddie Jones changed his entire front row five minutes before half-time and it delivered almost immediate results. Shuhei Takeuchi came on immediately at tighthead to win a scrum penalty and then power over from close range after a clever line out move to reduce the score to 21-10 at halftime. Edwards put over a long range penalty to extend the Welsh lead in the second half but a charge down led to Japan's second try after 58 minutes from giant lock Warner Dearns. With a nervy Wales making repeated errors, Japan cut the lead to two points in the 62nd minute when a high pass to flyhalf Edwards saw him unable to hold onto the ball, and Japan centre Riley snatched up the chance to run almost a half of the pitch to score between the poles. But in the last 10 minutes Wales were able to assert themselves again and Edwards finished off an expansive passing move to make sure of victory, greeted with much relief at the final whistle. (Writing by Mark Gleeson in Casablanca; Editing by Tomasz Janowski)