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BBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Cycling great Thomas bids emotional Tour farewell
There is a scene in Goodfellas, a continuous one-take shot as iconic as the film itself, where the protagonist Henry takes his future wife Karen to an exclusive club, skipping the queue by entering via a backdoor, walking through a vast, winding kitchen and into the dining room, handing out cash and fleeting niceties to the scores of different people he passes along the may have seen it even if you have not watched the film. A table is then specially brought to the new couple, played by Ray Liotta and Lorraine Bracco, in a prime position near the stage, and a fellow diner sends over Sunday night in Paris, walking alongside Geraint Thomas making his way from the Tour de France finish line to his team bus felt like a cyclist's reimagining of that the 39-year-old is retiring at the end of the year, this was his final Tour, a chance to bid farewell to the race that made him a national hero when he won it in 2018. And everybody wanted a piece of in his kit, on his bike and with his five-year-old son Macs sat on the handlebar, Thomas could barely move without a hand reaching out for a high five. As he wheeled past rival team buses, riders and coaches were constantly calling his name, falling over themselves to congratulate the achievements elevate one's status in Paris like wearing the yellow jersey as the Tour de France champion, crowned atop the podium in the shadow of the Arc de he was not victorious this year, Thomas was still in demand, given his 18-year association with this grand old was the youngest rider at the Tour de France in 2007, the champion 11 years later, and now the oldest participant in cycling's greatest race - the only man in the Tour's long and storied history to have been all three."It's been amazing," Thomas told BBC Sport Wales. "Looking back, I never thought I'd be doing 14 Tours and to win it was just bonkers. I can look back with fond memories."It was something I always dreamed of doing so to have just done it and be in Paris once is special you know. To do 14 is unreal really, one hell of a journey."I'm not one to be too sentimental and look back or whatever, you're always sort of thinking of the next thing. But I guess when it comes to the end there's nothing else to look forward to is there?" Thomas is not an outwardly emotional or demonstrative person by nature, but the Tour is a race like no other, a cultural phenomenon that transcends is the reason why Thomas, as a child, begged his parents for a Eurosport subscription, why he rushed home from school to watch on TV, hooked on a sport which was something of an alternative curiosity when it came to the sporting order of things in the UK in the Tour, however, has always cut through. Mention the yellow jersey to almost anyone and they will think of this race, regardless of whether or not they've actually ever watched is why Thomas has often said that it was winning the Tour that really changed his after successive Olympic gold medals and several world titles, he was only occasionally recognised even in his home city of Cardiff when he went out with friends and once he became Tour champion, Thomas was hurled into a different was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year, sat next to Nicole Kidman on Graham Norton's sofa and exchanged shirts with Lionel Messi at the Camp Nou. There were backstage passes for an Elton John concert too, what with Thomas signed up by Sir Elton's of that was remotely normal for a cyclist, regardless of how successful or likeable Thomas might be. Cycling is not a sport that lends itself to a glamorous have to sacrifice their family lives, their social lives, their diet – pretty much everything – to make it to the there is the colossal physical effort the sport was Thomas' 14th Tour, during which he has cycled for more than 1,000 hours and in excess of 26,000 miles – which is longer than the circumference of the still only makes up a fraction of the distances he will have clocked in all his other races and training sessions; literal years spent on a wonder, then, that he was ready to call it a day."It definitely feels like the right time now. It was a super hard race," Thomas said."The Tour is always hard, but the way racing is changing, not just physically, the aggression in the peloton and everything, the respect, everything is changing, so I'm definitely happy to be stepping away now." A decision on what comes next can wait. First, a chance to spend more time with Thomas sealed victory after the final time trial in 2018, the first person he saw after crossing the finish line was his wife Sara, flown in by the team bosses to surprise their new champion. On Sunday, she was by his side once more."It hasn't really hit home yet that this is the last one. We were just walking up the Champs Elysees, seeing the Arc de Triomphe and thinking, 'It's not every day you get to do this'," Sara said."It is a big part of our life but we're both very sure it's the right time to finish and excited for what lies ahead."The highs are amazing but the lows are so incredibly low that sometimes you start thinking if it's worthwhile, but then you get those amazing days again."It's going to be strange. It's going to be quite an adjustment having him always at home. It will be nice for him to do the mundane jobs, like the school pick-up and drop-off. Less travelling and being in one place for longer. I'm looking forward to that."The feeling was mutual."When you actually start to think about everything you've been through, you know, that's when it gets a bit like... yeah, it gets you," Thomas said, his voice breaking a little."They go through so much, just as much as me, if not more because they live the highs, but they live all the lows as well."And it's just been great that Macs has been able to be on the podium with me three times. Special memories."This is not quite the end of the road for Thomas, who will retire fully at the end of this year. Before then, there is time for one final race, September's Tour of Britain which will fittingly finish in a child with dreams of becoming a professional cyclists, Thomas had no Welsh role models whose paths he could follow, so he blazed his own becoming the first Welshman to win the Tour de France – having been only the second to compete in the iconic race – Thomas transformed cycling in his homeland, and secured his own legendary thousands who lined the streets of Cardiff for his 2018 homecoming were proof of that; freshly-converted cycling fans congregating to form the kind of throng usually reserved for Six Nations matchdays in the Welsh is Thomas' Tour legacy."This is where it all stated," Thomas said as he motioned towards the splendour of his Parisian surroundings."I did it my first year as a pro and was the youngest guy then and the oldest guy now, so it's full circle. It's the pinnacle of the sport, it's the biggest bike race in the world."To do 14 is unreal really, one hell of a journey."
Forbes
28-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
What Netflix's Nonnas Quietly Teaches Leaders About Wisdom
Photo byIn Nonnas, the 2025 Netflix dramedy featuring Vince Vaughn as Brooklyn's Joe Scaravella—the real-world story of a city employee mourning the loss of his mother, who decides to rebuild his life by opening a Staten Island restaurant—the kitchen symbolizes the clueless side of many of today's organizations. In the film, Italian grandmothers are hired to cook and revive recipes and dishes from the past in Scaravella's new restaurant. Unexpectedly, at least to me, these nonnas serve as a model of what leaders can do differently. While the plot may follow Scaravella's real-life loss, what lingers is something else entirely: the nonna's newfound purpose found through contribution, identity sustained through the employment of their experience, and the sense of community deepened by the transfer of their gained wisdom. Older Workers as Contributors, Not Ghosts At Enoteca Maria—the namesake restaurant of Scaravella's now-deceased mother—the nonnas manage the menu, calibrate sauces and pasta by intuition, and lead the kitchen service with confidence. They cook, teach, dance, and regale others with their deep cuts' menu items. There's even a little imbibing of limoncello. In one scene, Lorraine Bracco's Sicilian cook character and Brenda Vaccaro's Bolognese counterpart engage in a playful culinary tiff rooted in regional pride and mutual affection. It's a moment that underscores how experience and humor can build camaraderie. Many organizations mistake this sort of elderly impact by assigning older workers to advisory roles. Worse, they exit them from the organization, depicting them as too expensive or too slow. Nonnas demonstrates how wisdom can matter when it is actively applied. A flashback scene with Scaravella's mother, Maria, cements another lesson, one of something every leader ought to employ: learning by doing. Maria looks into the camera while plating the 'gravy,' also known as spaghetti sauce, and states, 'One does not grow old at the table.' Those words shift from sentiment to a calling card for today's leaders. It is through experience, conversation, and collaboration that wisdom can grow on your team. Indeed, data reinforces that 'the times they are a-changin'.' At least demographically. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the share of workers aged 65 and older in the labor force is projected to account for nearly 60 percent of total labor force growth between 2022 and 2032. The labor force participation rate for adults aged 75 and older has also increased steadily, reaching 8.3 percent in 2023 and is projected to rise to 10.1 percent by 2033. In Canada, the labor force participation rate for those aged 70 and older more than doubled from approximately 3.0% in 2000 to 6.7% in 2023, according to Statistics Canada. Add to that plummeting birth rates, and, eventually, the wisdom of older workers will become unequivocally necessary in your organization. Culture Emerges Through Experience & Knowledge In an interview with TIME Magazine, Scaravella captures the sentiment of older workers and their positive effect on corporate culture sublimely: 'This is not a restaurant,' he says. 'It walks like a restaurant, smells like a restaurant, talks like a restaurant, but it's not a restaurant. It's a cultural exchange.' That declaration reframes Enoteca Maria as a living ecosystem of cultural exchange rather than a venue simply for food delivery. Too many corporate cultures rest on glossy posters, mission statements, and hollow slogans of purpose. They further demonstrate their lack of foresight when they push experience out of the building. Culture does not swap easily for slogans. It requires presence, patience, and a plan for knowledge transfer. While many organizations recognize the importance of knowledge transfer, i4cp research highlights that most still struggle to implement effective programs and processes to capture and share critical knowledge, with significant challenges remaining in fostering a strong learning culture and eliminating silos. At Enoteca Maria, culture lives in each shift: the rhythm of risotto, the turn of tagliatelle, and the pass of the ladle. Lessons are not delivered; they are demonstrated between the nonnas and the customers. That is a strategically curated culture, not a short-term quest to drive down costs and drive out wisdom. Experience Fuels Innovation Innovation is often cast as the province of the young. Nonnas positively reframes the conversation entirely. There are several scenes in which the nonnas' wisdom is on full display as they concoct meals with new abundance and creativity. Research consistently demonstrates that the accumulation of crystallized intelligence—knowledge, expertise, and wisdom acquired over time—empowers older workers to excel in complex and ambiguous situations. Studies also show that older adults often outperform their younger counterparts in strategic decision-making, particularly when judgment and experience are required. This cognitive advantage of older workers can enable teams and organizations to navigate uncertainty with greater confidence and resilience. Those that foster generational diversity within their leadership and teams benefit from a broader range of perspectives and insights. For example, research by McKinsey & Company highlights that companies with diverse leadership teams, including those spanning multiple generations, consistently achieve superior business outcomes and innovation. By embracing the strengths of older workers, organizations not only leverage their wisdom but also position themselves for sustained success in evolving markets. Nonnas cooks that same lesson throughout the film. Contribution Across Life's Stages Many organizations still view career paths as a ladder, encouraging employees to climb until they are pushed out or the ladder is inconveniently snatched away. Nonnas tells a different story. Scaravella's restaurant is built around the power of their wisdom and contribution. They have boomeranged back into a working environment where not only are they thriving but also making meaningful contributions. They are not ornamental. The nonnas are foundational to the business's success. When organizations stop treating experience as an aging asset, contribution becomes lifelong. Wisdom remains active, and younger employees can learn from the ways of their older brethren. Nonnas delivers a simple, powerful lesson: experience does not have to expire. As the demographic crisis begins to take hold of the Western world, leaders will ignore the wisdom of wisdom at their own peril.
The Sun
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Rarely seen Hollywood legend celebrates Father's Day with family in LA – can you guess who he is?
THIS Hollywood legend has a number of hit films under his belt - but can you guess who it is? The actor was joined by his family in Los Angeles over the weekend as they celebrated Father's Day. 9 The star was dressed in a light beige blazer over a neutral shirt and dark trousers. He was spotted leaving swanky eatery Nobu in Malibu. The iconic actor is an Academy award nominee and has worked with US filmmaker Martin Scorsese for several years. The 86-year-old has appeared in a string of hit films including The Piano, Taxi Driver and Thelma and Louise. But have you worked out who he is yet? 9 9 9 9 It's American actor and film producer Harvey Keitel. He also starred in 90s hit movies Reservoir Dogs and Pulp Fiction. Harvey was seen making a rare outing with his wife Daphna Kastner on Sunday. The movie star looked dapper in a cream blazer, white shirt and black trousers. Harvey and Daphna have been married since 2001 and they share one son together, Roman, 21. Nepo baby with Hollywood star mum and director dad releases new song He enjoyed a rare public outing with his wife Daphna Kastner on Sunday for Father's Day. Harvey also has two other children from previous relationship: Stella, 39, with actress Lorraine Bracco and son Hudson, 24, with ex partner Lisa Karmazin. Harvey revealed how his good friend Robert De Niro first introduced him to his now wife Daphna. He said on The Late Show in 2021: "I met my wife in Rome at a party for Robert [De Niro]. "She allowed me to take her to dinner at the [Dal Bolognese Roma]. "Then I called her back again a second night. She came and we had dinner together a second night. "And then I asked her if she would like a drink in my hotel room — and she said, 'No, thank you'. And I spent a lot of money on her. It was a good restaurant." Harvey said they then reconnected 17 years later at another party hosted by De Niro. He continued: "And there was this girl who I bought two dinners for at the Dal Bolognese 17 years ago and it was my wife, Daphna. And we stayed together. "And seven weeks later, I was going to a film festival in Italy and I asked her to come with me. She said 'yes'. "And on the flight, I said, 'What do you think about getting married?' She gave a great answer: she said, 'OK'." He added: "The topper was, we get pregnant about a year later, and our son is born on Robert De Niro's birthday." 9 9 9
Vogue
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Vogue
103 Thoughts I Had While Watching Netflix's ‘Nonnas'
Nonnas is a very special movie for me. In addition to currently being the number-one film on Netflix, it also stars Vince Vaughn, the only man in history that both my mother and I have mutually crushed on. Granted, our infatuation dates to Wedding Crashers more than to his present-day deal, but I'm still glad to see him in this movie about a man who opens an Italian restaurant with a bunch of nonnas—a.k.a. Italian grandmothers—as chefs, played by a veritable murderer's row of MILFs (or GILFs?): Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, and Susan Sarandon. Let's dive in, shall we?
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘Sopranos' Star Lorraine Bracco Reveals She Still Owns $1 Home in ‘Sparse' Italian Town—5 Years After Documenting Gut Renovation on HGTV
'Sopranos' star Lorraine Bracco is a lifelong New York resident—but she cemented a strong tie to her Italian roots in 2020 when she purchased one of the country's now-infamous $1 homes, a property that she has now revealed she still owns to this day. Bracco, 70, was born and raised in Brooklyn and now lives in the Hamptons; but five years ago, when the opportunity arose to snap up a home in Sicily—where her father's family is from—she leapt at the chance, even documenting her renovation of the dwelling on HGTV's hit series 'My Big Italian Adventure.' Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Bracco explained that, when she purchased the abode in Sambuca di Sicilia, it was a 'sparse town' that was 'hoping to attract residents,' and believed that a one euro home program was the ideal way to bring in more people and revive the economy. 'I still have my 200-year-old villa in Sambuca di Sicilia, in Sicily. I bought it for one euro in 2020,' she shared. 'The sparse town was hoping to attract residents. My renovation was featured on the TV series 'My Big Italian Adventure.' The people there are so warm.' During her renovation of the home, Bracco told HGTV that she would be splitting her time between New York and Italy in order to oversee much of the work that was being done to her property—which was in a very rundown state and needed a drastic overhaul before it could be lived in. She gave herself and her team five months and $145,000 to complete the project, which required a roof replacement and for the dwelling to be stripped down to the studs. At the time, Bracco revealed that she was actually the one who reached out to HGTV to ask if the network would be interested in documenting her renovation process, explaining to the New York Times that she knew she'd face a multitude of challenges along the way, not least because she spoke no Italian and had never actually visited Sicily before. 'There would have been a lot of reasons not to do it, but I was so intrigued,' she explained. 'I said to myself, what do I have to lose? What is the downside?' Still, there was a great deal to be done, with Bracco noting that while, on paper, she had purchased a townhouse, in reality she found herself saddled with 'three freakin' rock walls.' 'I mean, it was a disaster,' she went on. So much so that Bracco ended up going well over budget, she revealed—spending between $250,000 and $300,000, around double what she had planned for. The actress, who is also known for her roles in 'Goodfellas' and the TNT drama 'Rizzoli & Isles,' did not reveal to the WSJ how often she visits the property; however, she noted that she has just made another exciting real estate purchase a little closer to home. 'Today, I live in the Hamptons on Long Island. I moved into my first house out here about 20 years ago,' she said. 'At the time, my kids promised to come and stay all the time if I bought it. And they did. I recently sold it and bought another contemporary home.' Bracco is a longtime New Yorker, having been born in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, where she and her family lived until she was 9, and the neighborhood became too 'dangerous' for them to stay there, she explained. It was then that the Braccos made the move to Long Island, relocating to a 'two-story, white house with medium-blue trim,' from where her dad made the commute into Manhattan for his job at Fulton Fish Market, while her mother remained at home with the kids. Her first brush with European living came when she was a recent high school graduate pursuing a career in modeling and was sent to Paris by her agency, Wilhelmina. 'When I arrived, I felt I'd been there my whole life. Paris was so comfortable. I started work the second day and did shoots for all the French magazines. I also modeled for Jean Paul Gaultier and became his muse,' she recalled of the 10 years she spent living in the European city. While she was living in Paris, Bracco began taking acting classes after a chance meeting with Hollywood legend Catherine Deneuve, who told her that she believed a role on the big or small screen would be perfect for her. After returning to New York, along with her daughter, Margaux, Bracco said that a career in acting just seemed a better fit, describing it as 'more emotionally rewarding than modeling.' She managed to secure several roles, almost immediately, but it was her appearance in the hit movie 'Goodfellas' that really cemented Bracco's status as a Hollywood star. Domino's Founder Asks $8.75M for His Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired Estate With a Sports Complex and a Three-Story Treehouse A $1 Billion Tax Bill Is Looming Over Boston Homeowners Come On Barbie, Let's Go Party! Palm Beach Oceanfront Dream House Is All Dolled Up for Sale
