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Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
A Bastille Day Tour victory for Bury rider Simon Yates
Bury's Simon Yates won stage 10 of the Tour de France on Bastille Day on Monday. Yates, who triumphed in his second Grand Tour at the Giro d'Italia in June, timed his attack superbly on the final ascent of the 165.3km stage from Ennezat - Le Mont-Dore Puy de Sancy after being part of a long-range breakaway. That group of 28 riders was whittled down significantly on a punishing day through the Massif Central that contained eight categorised climbs, with the Visma-Lease a Bike rider pulling clear in the closing stages. 'I didn't even feel that good,' admitted Yates to Cycling Weekly after winning what was his third career Tour stage victory. 'It was a really hard start to be there. And that's why I took advantage into the final corners at the bottom of the last descent, because I was looking for a bit of a head start; And I just did my best from there. 'It's been a long time. I was not really expecting any opportunities here. We came here fully focused on Jonas and the GC. 'The stage played out in a way that I could be there and I took it with both hands.' Yates said he'd had a tough start to the Tour, and was still tired after his Giro d'Italia overall victory. He added: 'It's not easy, I'm still a bit tired from there but I'm getting better every day. I was a bit rusty at the start but I've been growing into the race.' Ineos Grenadiers' Dutch climber Arensman finished second, with Healy, who was born in the West Midlands, coming home in third and jumping to the top of the general classification, 29 seconds ahead of defending champion Tadej Pogacar. After a rest day on Tuesday, racing resumes on Wednesday with a 156.8km route around Toulouse. The first big day in the Pyrenees arrives on Thursday with a trip up to the ski resort at Hautacam. After Monday's stage 10 triumph, former Bury Clarion star Yates sat 23rd in the overall classification. Twin brother Adam, riding for UAE Team Emirates XRG, was placed 44th in the general classification after a 24th spot on stage 10.
The Independent
16-07-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Tour de France stage 11 preview: Route map, profile and start time as Ben Healy wears yellow in Toulouse
The Tour de France rarely disappoints but this year's race has been utterly absorbing from the get-go when crosswinds blew apart the peloton on stage 1, and there's every reason to think stage 11 will serve up another thrilling day. Not many predicted Ireland's breakaway artist Ben Healy would own the famous yellow jersey on the first rest day of this Tour, but that's exactly what has unfolded after some tactical brilliance on Monday's stage 10 helped him gain more than three minutes on Tadej Pogacar to depose the reigning champion at the top of the GC standings, while Simon Yates won the stage itself. Not that Pogacar – who enjoyed coffees and a giant burger on Tuesday's rest day – plans on lending Healy the maillot jaune for long. 'We will see if Ben can hold on to the yellow jersey for a couple of stages,' Pogacar said. 'I think that he spent a lot of time in the breakaway already, so I hope he feels tired and we can fight again for the yellow in the next coming stages, maybe not [ stage 11 around Toulouse] but Hautacam and then the time trial [at Peyragudes] and Superbagneres – it's going to be three really nice climbing days.' That's all to come later in the week but Healy has a strong chance to still be wearing yellow by the end of the day, as the Tour resumes in Toulouse with a 154km route to and from the city. The stage is officially categorised as 'flat' by race organisers, but it is hilly enough to scupper some of the sprinters' hopes if the pace is high, which it may well be – stage 9 was the second fastest stage ever recorded, and stage 10 never let up either. Each had their own unique set of circumstances driving the peloton's high pace, but there's every reason to suspect another breakaway will form early here on stage 11, with the sprinters' teams forced to give chase if they want to set up their rider. Tim Merlier (Soudal–Quick-Step), Kaden Groves (Alpecin–Deceuninck), Jonathan Milan (Lidl-Trek), Biniam Girmay (Intermarche–Wanty) and Arnaud de Lie (Lotto) will all be hoping for a bunch sprint to the line. But that is no foregone conclusion, with five categorised climbs to clear including four in the 50km, and power riders might be put off by the finale: a loop around the city with a few short, sharp climbs such as the Cote de Pech David (800m at 12.4%) with 9km to go. The final 6km is flat, so will we see the sprinters there for a showdown or will it be a puncheur breaking clear over the hills who steals the stage? Route map and profile Start time Stage 11 starts at 12.45pm BST with an expected finish time of around 4.10pm. Prediction This is a tricky stage to predict, with the sprinters' teams desperate for a calm day followed by a dash to the line, but facing the prospect of having to chase down a determined breakaway looking for the stage win themselves. It could even be a day for a solo artist to escape clear, just as Ben Healy so expertly triumphed on stage 6. I would like to go for something of a romantic option – Julian Alaphilippe is one of the greatest one-day riders of his generation but has not triumphed at the Tour de France since 2021. If he gets into a strong breakaway then he has the racing nous to time a decisive launch to the line. But more realistic is a rider with the legs to crest the hills and a sprint to outgun their rivals down the home straight. Jonathan Milan and Kaden Groves both have the firepower to do just that, but I fancy Wout van Aert to take an opportunistic win, either by getting himself in the breakaway or by taking a messy sprint.
The Sun
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Infamous abandoned F1 track that left icon blind in one eye used for completely different sport
A HELLISH F1 track at the base of a volcano was used during the first mountain stage of the Tour de France this week. Simon Yates came out on top on Bastille Day, while Ben Healy wrestled the yellow jersey from three-time general classification winner Tadej Pogacar. 5 5 5 Stage 10 of the Tour de France shook up the race on Monday, featuring eight gruelling climbs. And McLaren and Ferrari made way for Team Sky and Movistar as the riders made their way up and over the famous Circuit de Charade. The now abandoned F1 track – better known by many as Clermont-Ferrand – hosted the French Grand Prix in 1965, 1969, 1970 and 1972. Three of those races were won by British drivers, with Jim Clark triumphing on its debut before Sir Jackie Stewart added a further two wins. But Charade's most notable moment came when it ended the career of current Red Bull advisor Helmut Marko. The Austrian driver was hit in the head by a dark volcanic rock thrown up by the car in front, driven by Bengt Peterson. The stone then pierced through Marko's visor, permanently blinding the two-time Le Mans winner in the left eye. Years before in 1959, British F2 racer Ivor Bueb lost his life during a race after being thrown from his car. 5 The treacherous turns and volcanic debris littering the track were concluded as the main cause of the deadly crash. As years went by the circuit started to become a safety hazard to spectators. Infamous abandoned F1 track that left icon blind in one eye used for completely different sport Tour de France general classification after stage 10 1. Ben Healy (Ire/EF Education-EasyPost) 37hrs 41mins 49secs 2. Tadej Pogacar (Slo/UAE Team Emirates-XRG) +29secs 3. Remco Evenepoel (Bel/Soudal Quick-Step) +1min 29secs 4. Jonas Vingegaard (Den/Visma-Lease a Bike) +1min 46secs 5. Matteo Jorgenson (US/Visma-Lease a Bike) +2mins 6secs 6. Kevin Vauquelin (Fra/Arkea-B&B Hotels) +2mins 26secs 7. Oscar Onley (GB/Picnic PostNL) +3mins 24secs 8. Florian Lipowitz (Ger/Red Bull - Bora-hansgrohe) +3mins 34secs 9. Primoz Roglic (Slo/Red Bull - Bora- hansgrohe +3mins 41secs 10. Anders Johannessen (Nor/Uno-X Mobility) +5mins 3secs As a result, Formula One left the mountains of Clermont-Ferrand in central France and never returned after 1972. The French GP moved back to Paul Ricard the following year, where it rotated on an annual basis with the Circuit Dijon-Prenois. With no F1 races, the Circuit de Charade was forced to adapt, hosting track days, driving courses and historic motorsport events. And now cycling stars Pogacar, Jonas Vingegaard, and others ripped around the tarmac on which F1 cars once danced.
Irish Times
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Ben Healy hails ‘fairytale' after riding into Tour de France yellow jersey
Bastille Day turned into another historic day for Irish cycling after Ben Healy rode himself into the leader's yellow jersey in stage 10 of the Tour de France . Four days after his outright victory in stage six, Healy produced another magnificent performance to finish third in yesterday's first proper mountainous stage in the Massif Central. On the 163km route from Ennezat to Puy de Sancy, Healy opened sufficient time on the previous race leader, Slovenia's Tadej Pogačar , taking over the yellow jersey by 29 seconds. With that Healy becomes only the fourth Irish rider to wear the famed maillot jaune in the now 112 editions of Tour de France, and the first since Stephen Roche wore it for three days during his outright Tour win in 1987. READ MORE Shay Elliott also held the race lead for three days back in 1963, as did Seán Kelly for one day in 1983. 'It's a fairytale, beyond belief really,' said Healy (24). 'I mean if you told me this before the Tour, I wouldn't have believed you. A stage win, and now the yellow jersey, is just incredible. [ Ireland's Ben Healy powers to Tour de France stage victory Opens in new window ] 'Some pretty crazy footsteps to follow, isn't it? I'm just super proud to represent Ireland, wear the yellow jersey for them, and hopefully I can do it some justice.' Healy started the day in 11th, three minutes and 55 seconds down on Pogačar, and was part of an original 29-rider breakaway. Britain's Simon Yates took the stage win by nine seconds, breaking clear on the brutal finish up Puy de Sancy and finishing 31 seconds ahead of Healy in third.
Arab News
15-07-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Healy becomes first Irishman in 38 years to lead the Tour de France
PUY DE SANCY, France: Ben Healy became the first Irishman since Stephen Roche in 1987 to take the overall lead on the Tour de France on Monday with a relentless attack across eight gruelling hills in the Massif Central. For the latest updates, follow us @ArabNewsSport The 24-year-old EF rider had already won stage six in Normandy, but here the smiley Healy confirmed his promise with a career-defining ride claiming the fabled yellow jersey. He becomes just the fourth Irishman to wear it following Shay Elliott, back in 1963, Sean Kelly in 1983 and Roche who went on to win an epic race 38 years ago. Healy's performance even overshadowed that of stage winner Simon Yates, who sat on his wheel all afternoon as they crossed the ancient volcanoes that mark the region. Such was the Irishman's effort as the escapees rushed through the grey-black volcanic rock villages that he was also awarded the combativity award for the most attacking rider of the day. 'Hats off to him, he's the one that dropped everyone,' Yates said of Healy as the escape group was gradually whittled down from 30 to five. The 2025 Giro d'Italia winner Yates attacked on the last of the day's climbs, with Thymen Arensman of Ineos second and Healy coming third at the line 31sec adrift and having never relented on a punishing day. Healy was born in Birmingham but chose to represent Ireland in his youth. He is also in the white jersey for the best young rider. 'The stage win I got and the yellow today both mean a lot to me,' said Healy, who had a tense wait at the line for Pogacar to cross 4min 51sec adrift and ceding the overall lead, likely for several days. 'This yellow is more for the team who worked so hard to put me here but the stage win possibly means more as it came first,' he said. Race favorites Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard crossed the line together after eight climbs in the Massif Central where they were rarely a wheel's length from each other. Healy leads the Tour itself by 29sec from defending champion Pogacar, with Belgian Remco Evenepoel in third at 1min 29sec. Denmark's double Tour de France champion Vingegaard is fourth overall at 1min 46sec, and his Visma teammate Matteo Jorgenson sits fifth. Third placed overnight, promising young French rider Kevin Vauquelin dropped a minute to finish the day in sixth place overall. Recompense for the home nation on the national Bastille Day holiday came in the form of Lenny Martinez as he earned the King of the Mountains polka dot jersey with 27 points garnered on the day's stage. His grandfather Mariano Martinez won the polka dot jersey outright on the 1978 Tour. Successive escape bids ensued from the off Monday as the 164 remaining riders raced out of Ennezat with top guns Pogacar and Evenepoel finally allowing one to get away over the ever-rolling terrain Once they did, a gap over five minutes was established by a motivated group that rode so hard over the cattle dotted hills the sprinters were dropped to over 30 minutes at the finish line. While Tuesday is a rest day, Wednesday's stage 11 is another flat run with a sprinter expected to take the honors in Toulouse.
