Latest news with #Giro
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Ben Healy on Irish Tour history: 'This yellow jersey is unbelievable.'
The Bastille Day stage of the 2025 Tour de France ended with an Englishman winning in the Auvergne, an Irishman in yellow, and a French hope falling by the wayside, as Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard called a truce on the eve of the first rest day. Simon Yates took a third career stage win in the Tour, only a few weeks after his unexpected success in the Giro d'Italia, dropping the last of his breakaway companions on the uphill finish to Puy de Sancy, while Ireland's Ben Healy claimed the first yellow jersey of his career. Read More Ireland's Ben Healy takes Yellow Jersey in Tour de France Healy, stage winner in Vire, had started the day almost four minutes behind the race leader, Pogacar, but as the defending champion and Vingegaard rode steadily to the finish line, the 24-year-old leapfrogged the Slovenian in the standings and became the first Irishman to wear the yellow jersey since Stephen Roche in 1987. 'It was such a tough stage today and I'm really tired, so I think this is only going to sink in tomorrow,' he said. 'I gave everything in the last 40 kilometres to give myself the best possible chance of taking the yellow jersey.' Healy's success was wholly deserved after he and his team had forced the pace to ensure the day's breakaway stayed clear to contest the finish, with the main peloton, containing Pogacar, almost six minutes distant. 'This is more for the team,' Healy said. 'They had to work hard today to put me in this position. Winning a stage was the first dream, but don't get me wrong, this yellow jersey is unbelievable.' Yates, winner of two stages in 2019, attacked at the foot of the final climb to Puy de Sancy, with only the Australian rider Ben O'Connor able to follow. As O'Connor faded, he was pursued into the final kilometre by Thymen Arensman of Ineos Grenadiers, but the Dutchman was unable to close the gap. As the race began in Lille, Yates had admitted needing to 'blow out the cobwebs' after his Giro win, but added that it had been a bigger challenge to reboot his motivation. 'It was a tough start for me,' he said of the Tour's Grand Départ, 'and not my forte. I was still quite tired after the Giro. Mentally, that was the hardest part.' Yates was among those in the day's breakaway who had admired Healy's unrelenting efforts to keep the pace high. 'It's really impressive how strong he is. It's not the first day I have felt his strength. I was also in the breakaway a few days ago when he won the stage and I was quite blown away with how much time he took.' The still air of the Auvergne was thick with the smell of roadside barbecues as the peloton tackled a sawtooth profile from Ennezat to Le Puy Sancy. But despite the Bastille Day celebrations there were mixed fortunes for the home nation with Kévin Vauquelin, third overall before the first real climbs, losing ground in the classification and dropping to sixth place. Meanwhile Lenny Martinez, whose grandfather Mariano Martinez won on the Bastille Day stage to Morzine in 1980, was the agent provocateur on the day's eight climbs. Martinez's accelerations on each ascent gradually reduced the initial break of 29 down to a final group of five and he was rewarded with the King of the Mountains jersey. As the stage entered the final 10km, a select group that included Healy, Yates and Martinez moved clear. While Yates rode to victory, the limpet-like Healy clung on to ensure he retained his time advantage over Pogacar. Healy gets a well-earned rest day in Toulouse on Tuesday as his EF Education-Easy Post team now look ahead to defending the race lead into the Pyrenees. Besides Roche, the other two Irishmen to hold yellow are Shay Elliot and Sean Kelly. Kelly told TNT Sports: "What a performance by Ben Healy. This is the performance of his life. We've seen him do magnificent things before but today was another step up." Former Irish road racer Dan Martin, who won Tour de France stages in 2013 and 2018, added: 'I went to see him after he won the stage and he was speechless. I'm excited for the country, for Ben, for the team." Guardian
Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Sport
- Al Etihad
Good day in office for Team Emirates cyclists
13 July 2025 22:07 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD) Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar (UAE Team Emirates XRG) continues to command the 2024 Tour de France, retaining the yellow jersey after Sunday's Stage 9, despite a setback for his team with the withdrawal of key mountain lieutenant João holds a 54-second lead over Belgian Remco Evenepoel (Soudal–Quick-Step) in the general classification heading into the mountain stages. But the UAE Team Emirates camp was dealt a significant blow with the exit of Almeida, who fractured a rib during a crash on Stage 7. The 26-year-old Portuguese rider had been in outstanding form this season, having already claimed victories at the Tour de Suisse, Tour of the Basque Country, and the Tour de Romandie. His absence leaves Pogačar without one of his most trusted climbing support riders for the critical Alpine tests GC contenders calculated their next moves, the spotlight on Stage 9 belonged to Tim Merlier, who edged out green jersey holder Jonathan Milan in a breathless sprint finish in Châteauroux. The 174.1-kilometre flat stage from Chinon was always tipped for the fast men, and Merlier did not disappoint. The Belgian from Soudal–Quick-Step timed his final surge to perfection, mirroring his Stage 3 win in a near-photo finish against the same rival."One moment I thought I was boxed in, but I could come out just before 200 metres – or maybe just after, I don't know anymore," said Merlier. "I just went all in, and I'm happy I can win my second stage here."The sprint finale came after an audacious solo break by Mathieu van der Poel, who was the last survivor of an early escape with teammate Jonas Rickaert. Propelled by a favourable tailwind, the Alpecin-Deceuninck pair stretched out a lead of over five minutes and picked up intermediate points. But as the peloton tightened the pace and rival teams joined the chase, the Dutchman's effort unravelled heartbreakingly just 700 metres from the line."Well, five-and-a-half minutes is a lot, so we tried to help, and other teams also started to pull. The pacing was quite high," Merlier added. "It was just hard for everyone-those up front, those pulling, and the nervous bunch behind."Despite the drama up front, the general classification saw little movement, with Pogačar continuing to look composed in yellow. But with Almeida out and the mountains looming, the defending champion's grip on the race will soon face its stiffest test. Longo Borghini Retains Giro Elisa Longo Borghini won the women's Giro d'Italia for the second year in a row on Sunday after the home favourite finished fourth in the closing stage behind Liane Lippert. The 33-year-old Italian had taken possession of the overall leader's pink jersey on Saturday and kept hold of it when it mattered most. She topped the general classification by 18 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Marlen Reusser (Movistar)."I'm lost for words. This Giro was intense, packed with emotions, unforgettable" commented Longo Borghini. "I knew I was going to have to give everything, and that's what I did. Cycling is full of highs and lows, and moments like this make the sacrifice worthwhile," she Sarah Gigante, who had won Saturday's queen stage, took third overall, at 1 minute, 11 seconds. Toro Takes Tour of Austria Isaac Del Toro secured overall victory at the Tour of Austria, his career's second, after finishing safely in the main group during Sunday's fifth and final stage. Victory for the 21-year-old Mexican was built on three consecutive stage victories from Thursday to Saturday, helping him secure the red leader's jersey without any trouble. His success brings UAE Team Emirates-XRG's 2025 season tally to 62 stage was won by Bob Jungels of Ineos Grenadiers from a breakaway, while Del Toro's teammate Florian Vermeersch finished third in the sprint. The race began with a strong start for the Emirati team, as Felix Großschartner took a solo win on the opening stage, before Del Toro's hat-trick. Veteran Rafał Majka delivered a steady performance throughout the week to finish third overall.
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Aussie Gigante climbs the podium at Giro d'Italia
Sarah Gigante has completed her dazzling maiden Giro d'Italia by finishing third overall and winning the Queen of the Mountains jersey as the top climber. While Italian home favourite Elisa Longo Borghini held on to her overnight lead to take the title for a second straight year, Gigante was thrilled to finish her breakthrough event, in which she won two mountain stages in four days, with a place on the podium. Better still, she produced the goods on the final hilly stage to take the Queen of the Mountains jersey as top climber, going past the overnight leader, Spain's Usoa Ostolaza. "I can't believe how well this week went," said Gigante, who is making a remarkable comeback to the sport after surgery last year to fix the debilitating condition, Iliac artery endofibrosis. "I never expected this. My main concern was just being able to compete again without pain." The 24-year-old follows her countrywoman Neve Bradbury, who also finished third in the 2024 event, and joins Amanda Spratt (3rd in 2018 and 2019), Kathryn Watt (2nd in 1994 and 3rd in 1990) and Elisabeth Hepple (2nd in the inaugural 1988 event) in the Giro's Australian roll of honour. After taking the race lead off Marlen Reusser on the penultimate stage, Longo Borghini successfully defended the pink jersey on the final 134km stage eight from Forlì to Imola, finishing fourth behind her Swiss rival on the day. Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) ended up victorious by 18 seconds ahead of Movistar's Reusser, with Gigante unable to make any inroads into the champion's overnight lead of 71 seconds over the Melbourne rider. The stage was won by Movistar's Liane Lippert, who beat Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) in a two-up sprint at the famous Imola racetrack, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, after the pair had escaped from a group of a dozen riders, including Gigante, in the last 3km. The hilly route provided Gigante's key to the Queen of the Mountains blue jersey prize. She had been lying one point behind Ostolaza overnight, but won the first mountain sprint in Monticino to regain a lead that she wasn't about to relinquish. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) then went on a solo breakaway to win an intermediate sprint and seal her points classification victory. "It's been an incredible Giro - for me and for the team. The last eight days were full gas: we had a common goal, and we achieved it," Longo Borghini said. Sarah Gigante has completed her dazzling maiden Giro d'Italia by finishing third overall and winning the Queen of the Mountains jersey as the top climber. While Italian home favourite Elisa Longo Borghini held on to her overnight lead to take the title for a second straight year, Gigante was thrilled to finish her breakthrough event, in which she won two mountain stages in four days, with a place on the podium. Better still, she produced the goods on the final hilly stage to take the Queen of the Mountains jersey as top climber, going past the overnight leader, Spain's Usoa Ostolaza. "I can't believe how well this week went," said Gigante, who is making a remarkable comeback to the sport after surgery last year to fix the debilitating condition, Iliac artery endofibrosis. "I never expected this. My main concern was just being able to compete again without pain." The 24-year-old follows her countrywoman Neve Bradbury, who also finished third in the 2024 event, and joins Amanda Spratt (3rd in 2018 and 2019), Kathryn Watt (2nd in 1994 and 3rd in 1990) and Elisabeth Hepple (2nd in the inaugural 1988 event) in the Giro's Australian roll of honour. After taking the race lead off Marlen Reusser on the penultimate stage, Longo Borghini successfully defended the pink jersey on the final 134km stage eight from Forlì to Imola, finishing fourth behind her Swiss rival on the day. Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) ended up victorious by 18 seconds ahead of Movistar's Reusser, with Gigante unable to make any inroads into the champion's overnight lead of 71 seconds over the Melbourne rider. The stage was won by Movistar's Liane Lippert, who beat Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) in a two-up sprint at the famous Imola racetrack, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, after the pair had escaped from a group of a dozen riders, including Gigante, in the last 3km. The hilly route provided Gigante's key to the Queen of the Mountains blue jersey prize. She had been lying one point behind Ostolaza overnight, but won the first mountain sprint in Monticino to regain a lead that she wasn't about to relinquish. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) then went on a solo breakaway to win an intermediate sprint and seal her points classification victory. "It's been an incredible Giro - for me and for the team. The last eight days were full gas: we had a common goal, and we achieved it," Longo Borghini said. Sarah Gigante has completed her dazzling maiden Giro d'Italia by finishing third overall and winning the Queen of the Mountains jersey as the top climber. While Italian home favourite Elisa Longo Borghini held on to her overnight lead to take the title for a second straight year, Gigante was thrilled to finish her breakthrough event, in which she won two mountain stages in four days, with a place on the podium. Better still, she produced the goods on the final hilly stage to take the Queen of the Mountains jersey as top climber, going past the overnight leader, Spain's Usoa Ostolaza. "I can't believe how well this week went," said Gigante, who is making a remarkable comeback to the sport after surgery last year to fix the debilitating condition, Iliac artery endofibrosis. "I never expected this. My main concern was just being able to compete again without pain." The 24-year-old follows her countrywoman Neve Bradbury, who also finished third in the 2024 event, and joins Amanda Spratt (3rd in 2018 and 2019), Kathryn Watt (2nd in 1994 and 3rd in 1990) and Elisabeth Hepple (2nd in the inaugural 1988 event) in the Giro's Australian roll of honour. After taking the race lead off Marlen Reusser on the penultimate stage, Longo Borghini successfully defended the pink jersey on the final 134km stage eight from Forlì to Imola, finishing fourth behind her Swiss rival on the day. Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) ended up victorious by 18 seconds ahead of Movistar's Reusser, with Gigante unable to make any inroads into the champion's overnight lead of 71 seconds over the Melbourne rider. The stage was won by Movistar's Liane Lippert, who beat Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) in a two-up sprint at the famous Imola racetrack, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, after the pair had escaped from a group of a dozen riders, including Gigante, in the last 3km. The hilly route provided Gigante's key to the Queen of the Mountains blue jersey prize. She had been lying one point behind Ostolaza overnight, but won the first mountain sprint in Monticino to regain a lead that she wasn't about to relinquish. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) then went on a solo breakaway to win an intermediate sprint and seal her points classification victory. "It's been an incredible Giro - for me and for the team. The last eight days were full gas: we had a common goal, and we achieved it," Longo Borghini said. Sarah Gigante has completed her dazzling maiden Giro d'Italia by finishing third overall and winning the Queen of the Mountains jersey as the top climber. While Italian home favourite Elisa Longo Borghini held on to her overnight lead to take the title for a second straight year, Gigante was thrilled to finish her breakthrough event, in which she won two mountain stages in four days, with a place on the podium. Better still, she produced the goods on the final hilly stage to take the Queen of the Mountains jersey as top climber, going past the overnight leader, Spain's Usoa Ostolaza. "I can't believe how well this week went," said Gigante, who is making a remarkable comeback to the sport after surgery last year to fix the debilitating condition, Iliac artery endofibrosis. "I never expected this. My main concern was just being able to compete again without pain." The 24-year-old follows her countrywoman Neve Bradbury, who also finished third in the 2024 event, and joins Amanda Spratt (3rd in 2018 and 2019), Kathryn Watt (2nd in 1994 and 3rd in 1990) and Elisabeth Hepple (2nd in the inaugural 1988 event) in the Giro's Australian roll of honour. After taking the race lead off Marlen Reusser on the penultimate stage, Longo Borghini successfully defended the pink jersey on the final 134km stage eight from Forlì to Imola, finishing fourth behind her Swiss rival on the day. Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) ended up victorious by 18 seconds ahead of Movistar's Reusser, with Gigante unable to make any inroads into the champion's overnight lead of 71 seconds over the Melbourne rider. The stage was won by Movistar's Liane Lippert, who beat Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) in a two-up sprint at the famous Imola racetrack, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, after the pair had escaped from a group of a dozen riders, including Gigante, in the last 3km. The hilly route provided Gigante's key to the Queen of the Mountains blue jersey prize. She had been lying one point behind Ostolaza overnight, but won the first mountain sprint in Monticino to regain a lead that she wasn't about to relinquish. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) then went on a solo breakaway to win an intermediate sprint and seal her points classification victory. "It's been an incredible Giro - for me and for the team. The last eight days were full gas: we had a common goal, and we achieved it," Longo Borghini said.
West Australian
3 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Aussie Gigante climbs the podium at Giro d'Italia
Sarah Gigante has completed her dazzling maiden Giro d'Italia by finishing third overall and winning the Queen of the Mountains jersey as the top climber. While Italian home favourite Elisa Longo Borghini held on to her overnight lead to take the title for a second straight year, Gigante was thrilled to finish her breakthrough event, in which she won two mountain stages in four days, with a place on the podium. Better still, she produced the goods on the final hilly stage to take the Queen of the Mountains jersey as top climber, going past the overnight leader, Spain's Usoa Ostolaza. "I can't believe how well this week went," said Gigante, who is making a remarkable comeback to the sport after surgery last year to fix the debilitating condition, Iliac artery endofibrosis. "I never expected this. My main concern was just being able to compete again without pain." The 24-year-old follows her countrywoman Neve Bradbury, who also finished third in the 2024 event, and joins Amanda Spratt (3rd in 2018 and 2019), Kathryn Watt (2nd in 1994 and 3rd in 1990) and Elisabeth Hepple (2nd in the inaugural 1988 event) in the Giro's Australian roll of honour. After taking the race lead off Marlen Reusser on the penultimate stage, Longo Borghini successfully defended the pink jersey on the final 134km stage eight from Forlì to Imola, finishing fourth behind her Swiss rival on the day. Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) ended up victorious by 18 seconds ahead of Movistar's Reusser, with Gigante unable to make any inroads into the champion's overnight lead of 71 seconds over the Melbourne rider. The stage was won by Movistar's Liane Lippert, who beat Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) in a two-up sprint at the famous Imola racetrack, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, after the pair had escaped from a group of a dozen riders, including Gigante, in the last 3km. The hilly route provided Gigante's key to the Queen of the Mountains blue jersey prize. She had been lying one point behind Ostolaza overnight, but won the first mountain sprint in Monticino to regain a lead that she wasn't about to relinquish. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) then went on a solo breakaway to win an intermediate sprint and seal her points classification victory. "It's been an incredible Giro - for me and for the team. The last eight days were full gas: we had a common goal, and we achieved it," Longo Borghini said.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Aussie Gigante climbs the podium at Giro d'Italia
Sarah Gigante has completed her dazzling maiden Giro d'Italia by finishing third overall and winning the Queen of the Mountains jersey as the top climber. While Italian home favourite Elisa Longo Borghini held on to her overnight lead to take the title for a second straight year, Gigante was thrilled to finish her breakthrough event, in which she won two mountain stages in four days, with a place on the podium. Better still, she produced the goods on the final hilly stage to take the Queen of the Mountains jersey as top climber, going past the overnight leader, Spain's Usoa Ostolaza. "I can't believe how well this week went," said Gigante, who is making a remarkable comeback to the sport after surgery last year to fix the debilitating condition, Iliac artery endofibrosis. "I never expected this. My main concern was just being able to compete again without pain." The 24-year-old follows her countrywoman Neve Bradbury, who also finished third in the 2024 event, and joins Amanda Spratt (3rd in 2018 and 2019), Kathryn Watt (2nd in 1994 and 3rd in 1990) and Elisabeth Hepple (2nd in the inaugural 1988 event) in the Giro's Australian roll of honour. After taking the race lead off Marlen Reusser on the penultimate stage, Longo Borghini successfully defended the pink jersey on the final 134km stage eight from Forlì to Imola, finishing fourth behind her Swiss rival on the day. Longo Borghini (UAE Team ADQ) ended up victorious by 18 seconds ahead of Movistar's Reusser, with Gigante unable to make any inroads into the champion's overnight lead of 71 seconds over the Melbourne rider. The stage was won by Movistar's Liane Lippert, who beat Anna van der Breggen (SD Worx-Protime) in a two-up sprint at the famous Imola racetrack, the Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari, after the pair had escaped from a group of a dozen riders, including Gigante, in the last 3km. The hilly route provided Gigante's key to the Queen of the Mountains blue jersey prize. She had been lying one point behind Ostolaza overnight, but won the first mountain sprint in Monticino to regain a lead that she wasn't about to relinquish. Lorena Wiebes (SD Worx-Protime) then went on a solo breakaway to win an intermediate sprint and seal her points classification victory. "It's been an incredible Giro - for me and for the team. The last eight days were full gas: we had a common goal, and we achieved it," Longo Borghini said.
