Latest news with #GrandTours
NBC Sports
23-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Del Toro adds 5 seconds to his Giro lead and Pedersen wins his fourth stage
VICENZA, Italy — Mexican rider Isaac Del Toro keeps on adding to his Giro d'Italia lead — even if it's just a few seconds per day. Del Toro's third-place finish in the 13th stage on Friday, which had a short but steep uphill finale, extended his lead over UAE Team Emirates teammate Juan Ayuso by five seconds. Danish rider Mads Pedersen claimed his fourth stage win of the race with a burst of acceleration up to the Monte Berico sanctuary. Wout van Aert crossed second with the same time as Pedersen, and Del Toro finished third, two seconds behind but three seconds ahead of all the other overall contenders. For the second straight day, Del Toro also picked up a two-second bonus during an intermediate sprint with 10 kilometers to go, while Ayuso picked up four seconds. In the overall standings, Del Toro leads Ayuso by 38 seconds, with Antonio Tiberi 1:18 back in third. Simon Yates was fourth, 1:20 behind, and Primoz Roglic fifth, 1:35 behind. Del Toro became the first Mexican to lead the Giro on Sunday when he finished second. 'All the riders from the top 20 are crazily strong. They are Grand Tours winners, podium finishers, etc. and I'm the new guy here,' Del Toro said. 'Maybe on paper I'm not the favorite but I have to be strong and listen to the guys in the team.' He's riding his second Grand Tour after placing 36th in the Spanish Vuelta last year. The 180-kilometer (112-mile) route from Rovigo to Vicenza was mostly flat — until the finale, which featured two ascents to Monte Berico, with an average gradient of 7.1% with the finishing meters at 12%. Pedersen also won Stages 1, 3 and 5. The mostly flat 14th stage on Saturday follows a 195-kilometer (121-mile) route from Treviso over the border into Slovenia with a finish in Nova Gorica. Then on Sunday, there's a big climb up Monte Grappa at the stage's midpoint. The Giro ends in Rome on June 1.
Hype Malaysia
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hype Malaysia
TUDOR's Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Pink' Is An Epic Ode To The Giro d'Italia
The Giro d'Italia is one of the most prestigious Grand Tours in the professional circuit, and TUDOR is the Official Timekeeper of the race. The coveted Maglia Rosa, or 'pink jersey', that represents victory at the Giro has over a century of storied history behind it. To get an idea of just how challenging the race is, consider this: The riders will experience the elevation gain of going up Mt. Everest six times over the course of the race. If that isn't worthy of making a race-specific watch for, then we don't know what is. Enter the Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Pink,' of which only 300 units will be produced. Professional cycling isn't for the faint of heart. Riders' bodies and minds are pushed to the absolute limit with every pedal stroke, not to mention the incredible danger of the sport. A watch engineered with professional cycling in mind needs to stand up to the extreme demands of the sport, while being easy for the rider to operate. It's no secret that the fastest bikes are made of carbon fibre, and that's why TUDOR opted for carbon composite for the case of the new chronograph designed with daring riders in mind. The implementation of titanium elements help make the watch necessarily robust, as it will certainly face the unpredictable conditions presented by cycling. It's not only the durability of the watch that was considered during its design phase. It's also meant to be useful to riders while they're putting in time on the bike. It's typical for the tachymetric scale of a chronograph to be calibrated to the speeds an automobile is capable of; indeed, many TUDOR chronographs feature a scale typically associated with motorsport. What makes the Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Pink' special is that the scale is presented in a way that's suited for the speeds that cyclists can sustain. The chronograph scale is 'wrapped' around the dial in a spiral, allowing the average speeds that cyclists routinely operate at to be read at a glance. The tachymeter function on the Pelagos FXD Chrono 'Pink' has been specifically designed for cycling. Race Ready Dials The matt black dial with pink accents puts legibility first and foremost and is reminiscent of the colours associated with the Giro d'Italia. The signature square hour-markers and 'Snowflake' hands, designed back in the sixties by TUDOR to offer larger luminous surfaces and thus improve legibility, are fashioned from luminescent ceramic composite for optimal legibility in challenging conditions. Around the circumference of the dial, printed on a 45°-angled rehaut, is a re-calibrated tachymeter scale whose inner ring focuses on the speeds that cyclists ride at. A Fabric Strap For Riding The single-piece fabric strap is one of the hallmarks of TUDOR, which in 2010, became one of the first watchmaking brands to offer it with its watches. Woven in France on 19th century Jacquard looms by the Julien Faure company in the St-Etienne region, its manufacturing quality, robustness and comfort on the wrist are unique. For the Pelagos FXD models, a highly technical strap construction was developed by TUDOR and Julien Faure. Made up of a 22mm black jacquard-woven technical fabric with a pink stripe and a traditional buckle, it's perfect for putting in time on the bike. Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813 The Manufacture Calibre MT5813, powering the Pelagos FXD Chrono, displays hours, minutes, seconds, chronograph and date functions. It also bears the matt finish typical of TUDOR Manufacture Calibres and comes complete with a signature tungsten openwork monobloc rotor. Boasting a 'weekend-proof' 70-hour power reserve and a silicon balance spring, the Manufacture Chronograph Calibre MT5813 is certified by the Swiss Official Chronometer Testing Institute (COSC), with its performance exceeding the standards set by this independent institute at -2 and +4 seconds' variation per day, tested on every fully assembled chronograph. A high-performance movement, it was crafted in the purest watchmaking tradition, with a column wheel mechanism and vertical clutch. Derived from the Manufacture Calibre Breitling 01 chronograph, with a high-precision regulating organ developed by TUDOR and exclusive finishes, this movement is the result of a lasting collaboration between the two brands. For more details, visit TUDOR's official website.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
A long ride to Rome: could the Giro d'Italia really be bound for Australia?
The Tour Down Under in South Australia shows that logistical challenges are not insurmountable for international cycling teams competing in Australia. The Tour Down Under in South Australia shows that logistical challenges are not insurmountable for international cycling teams competing in Australia. Photograph:Earlier this month, the Giro d'Italia – Italy's premier cycling race and one of three Grand Tours on the global cycling calendar – began in Albania. So far, so normal – it is increasingly common for the Grand Tours to begin outside their homelands. The Tour de France first started outside France in 1954; in recent years, the Grand Départ has taken place in Italy, Spain, Denmark and Belgium. The Giro has previously rolled out from as far afield as Israel and Northern Ireland, while next year's Vuelta a España will begin in Monaco. But on Monday, the well-known Australian cycling commentator Mike Tomalaris raised eyebrows when he suggested the 2027 Giro might begin half a world away: in Australia. With a post on Instagram, Tomalaris indicated he was breaking the news. Advertisement Related: 'I can live up to it': Giro d'Italia contender Michael Storer on his Destroyer nickname 'I can reveal officials from state governments have held high level discussions with the view of bringing the opening three stages of Italy's Grand Tour to Australia in May, 2027,' Tomalaris said in the post. 'This is not a joke. It's not a rumour. It's for real.' The suggestion drew mixed reactions from the cycling world. Three-time Australian national champion Luke Plapp, who is midway through riding this year's Giro for Team Jayco AlUla, replied to Tomalaris's post: 'Genuinely impossible.' The French chef Gabriel Gaté, famous for his Taste le Tour segment during past SBS broadcasts of the Tour de France, was more enthusiastic: 'Incredibile!.' Others asked whether it was April Fools' Day. One commentator observed that it would be a long ride from Australia to Italy. On a subsequent episode of the cycling podcast The Domestiques, Tomalaris went further and said he had 'seen the paperwork' relating to the bid. Nor did the Giro race director Mauro Vegni deny the rumour when asked about it by Belgian media outlet Sporza. Advertisement 'We don't rule anything out,' Vegni said. 'It's difficult from a practical and logistical point of view, but we don't say no to anyone in advance.' But the race director was not exactly effusive about the prospect of an Australian Grande Partenza. 'Everything is possible, but you have to study the interest well, and you also have to find out what the UCI's position is,' he said. 'Moreover, we do not yet know how the calendar will be reformed soon and what the rules will be.' Guardian Australia can reveal that this is not the first time the prospect of a Giro start in Australia has been explored. Documents seen by the Guardian show detailed consideration went into a potential start in Sydney in 2021, including budget estimates and a proposed opening stage route taking in landmarks such as the Opera House (the race ultimately began in Italy that year). A letter from the Giro organisers, RCS Sports, formally invited the then New South Wales sports minister to attend an edition of the race in Italy. Advertisement The logistical challenges of bringing almost 200 professional cyclists, plus team staff and equipment, to Australia for three or so stages and then returning the peloton to Italy would not be for the faint-hearted (or the climate-conscious). Typically World Tour teams use their own team bus and numerous team cars, which could not feasibly travel to Australia and back. Equipment would not be an insurmountable obstacle, though: the Tour Down Under in South Australia and the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race are both fixtures on the World Tour calendar. More challenging is the flight time and time difference. Races often have a rest day after international starts, but the travel and jetlag involved might require two rest days. Qantas flies direct from Perth to Rome on a seasonal basis, with a flight time of almost 16 hours. The six-hour time difference also causes headaches: from a rider recovery perspective, and for television audiences – a critical factor due to the lucrative broadcast contracts underpinning these races. A Grand Tour start on the east coast of Australia, with longer flight times and time differences, would be even more problematic. Could Western Australia be the key? Given those geographical advantages, Western Australia seems the most likely candidate. The state government has been investing in cycling in recent years, securing hosting rights to the AusCycling national road championships and, in 2026, the UCI Gravel World Championships. Advertisement A spokesperson for Tourism Western Australia told the Guardian: 'Tourism Western Australia actively works to secure a range of major and exclusive events that drive visitation, elevate WA on a global stage and generate significant media coverage for our state.' 'Individual event negotiations are commercial in confidence, however, we have a proud history of hosting high-profile cycling events,' the spokesperson added. 'We're always assessing new content to add to our always on, year-round events calendar, to affirm our reputation as the fastest growing events destination in the South East Asia region and as a world-class host of major sporting events.' Related: Australian cyclist Caleb Ewan stuns sport by announcing retirement As described by the cycling news outlet Escape Collective, which first reported the statement, the state government's position seems to be 'not a 'yes', but it's also not-not a yes'. Sooner or later, a Grand Tour will begin outside cycling's European heartland. Israel was a first step in 2018; the Middle East has been touted as a potential next frontier – there have been a proliferation of World Tour races across the region in recent years, including in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Australia has a rich cycling history, but geography counts against it. In cycling, though, nothing is impossible.
Daily Mirror
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Giro d'Italia chaos with riders in huge crash as protestors sabotage race
The sixth stage of the Giro d'Italia was halted after a disaster crash caused a major pile-up around 44 miles from the finish line in Naples - and that wasn't the only drama of the day The Giro d'Italia screeched to a halt on Thursday following a 20-rider pile-up crash just 44 miles from the finish line. The annual race, which is the first of the year's three Grand Tours, is a prestigious event primarily held in Italy but also passing through neighbouring countries. It had begun in Potenza and was bound for the finish line in Naples, but a disastrous crash curtailed the excitement towards the conclusion. The incident saw slippery surfaces causing many racers, including former champion Jai Hindley, to end up in a heap in the middle of the road. Hindley's race was confirmed to be over after medical exams revealed he had suffered a concussion and would remain in the hospital overnight for observation. In addition to the 2022 victor's exit from the event, leader Mads Pedersen also went down, and other riders, including Richard Carapaz, Derek Gee, and Adam Yates, were caught up in the commotion. They were deemed okay to continue, but Dion Smith of Intermarche-Wanty and Juri Hollmann of Alpecin-Deceuninck joined Hindley in abandoning the race. Hindley's accident is a major blow for his Red Bull team, as pre-race favourite and team-mate Primoz Roglic could now be without an experienced climber alongside him. Red Bull director Patxi Vila told TNT Sports that the crash was a "big loss" for the team, and highlighted Hindley's importance to his squad. Vila said: "Definitely not what we expected today, it's a big loss for us to lose Jai. "He knows how to win this race and was a very important man for us in the three weeks. I think it's nothing to be worried about, he was a bit dizzy so that's why race doctors said to put him in the ambulance. Nothing broken." However, this rain-affected crash wasn't the only drama on the race track on Thursday. A pair of protestors also derailed the two front-runners just a few miles from the finish. Taco van der Hoorn of Intermarche-Wanty and Enzo Paleni of Groupama–FDJ were leading towards the end of the Stage Six phase, when they were forced to swerve and brake to avoid people on the road. With less than two miles to go in Naples, one person in a yellow coat ran on the road holding a length of tape, which was attached to a fellow protestor on the other side. Footage shown by TNT Sports also captured the protestor throwing a long cable onto the tarmac. Van der Hoorn slammed on his brakes, and Paleni was forced to swerve behind him to avoid a crash. The tape got caught on the Dutchman's neck as he came to an almost complete stop, ending his hopes of a victory. The same protestor emerged moments later as the rest of the riders arrived, waving a white banner in front of the peloton. A crash was narrowly avoided, and Kaden Groves of Alpecin-Deceuninck ultimately won. Van der Hoorn was disappointed by the race's ending. He told TNT Sports: "In the end it was close. But at 2.5km, there were protestors on the road and they blocked me completely. "They were standing with a line in front of me and I had to brake until zero. Then it was over completely because we had to relaunch. I don't know if we would have made it, I don't think so, but it was sad."
Perth Now
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Perth Now
'Stepping stones': Plapp takes aim at Grand Tour glory
Luke Plapp is biding his time, well aware that the road to Grand Tour glory is usually paved with struggle and setbacks. The 24-year-old will be a key member of the Australian Jayco AlUla team in the Giro d'Italia which starts on Friday night (AEST) at Durres in Albania. For now, his focus will be on supporting their main general classification (GC) hope and fellow Australian Chris Harper, as well as aiming for top results in the Giro's two individual time trial stages. But one day, Plapp wants to follow the career path of British greats Brad Wiggins and Geraint Thomas - from the pursuit on the track, to the road time trial and ultimately greatness in the three-week Grand Tours. Wiggins won the Tour de France in 2013 and Thomas did the same in 2018. "I'd really like to target the GC at Grand Tours - I'd like to get to that at some stage in my career," Plapp told AAP earlier this year. "It's still a little bit away, but it's something I want to work towards. It's definitely the vision the team had when they signed me, it matches the vision of how I want to ride in the next few years. "It's a process ... stepping stones." This will be Plapp's third three-week Grand Tour, after he led the young rider classification for one day at the Giro last year and also finished the 2022 Vuelta a Espana. At his best, Plapp is one of the world's top time trial riders and his ultimate goal is gold in the event at the Olympics. But he has been dogged by injury, particularly the nasty crash in the time trial at last year's Paris Games when confident of contending for a medal. He needed abdominal surgery and was off the bike for six weeks. Plapp also was out of action for a couple of months earlier this year because of a wrist injury, but returned to win a stage in the Tour of Greece. The Giro field features a strong Australian contingent, with Michael Hepburn also in the Jayco AlUla lineup. Michael Storer (Tudor) is coming off his Tour of the Alps win last month and is seen as a GC contender. In 2022, Jai Hindley became only the second Australian after Cadel Evans to win a Grand Tour when he took out the Giro. His main job this year will be as a key mountain domestique for Red Bull BORA Hansgrohe team leader Primoz Roglic, the race favourite. Jay Vine (UAE Team Emirates) likewise will be an important ally for Spanish young gun Juan Ayuso, who looms as Roglic's top rival. Vine finished third overall this month at the Tour of Romandie, a key pre-Giro race. Sprinter Kaden Groves and Jensen Plowright (Alpecin-Deceuninck), Lucas Hamilton (INEOS Grenadiers), road captain Simon Clarke and Nick Schultz (Israel-Premier Tech), Damien Howson (Q36.5) and Team Picnic Postal riders Alex Edmondson and Chris Hamilton are also on the Giro start list.
