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The Journal
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Journal
How Ben Healy - grandson of Irish immigrants - made sporting history at the Tour de France
IN JUNE 2020 in the south Limerick hillside village of Knockaderry, a slight framed English accented Irish man smashed a field of the country's best home and international cyclists to take the national title. Just days before, riding in the colours of the Andrew McQuaid managed development team Trinity Racing, he took the Time Trial title. For many in Irish cycling it was the first sign that there was a significant new talent on the scene. Nicolas Roche, the son of Dundrum's former Tour de France winner Stephen, finished second to him. This reporter attempted to interview Roche afterwards who was visibly enraged at the defeat while, across the road, the 20-year-old rider, Ben Healy, was light and welcoming, speaking fluidly about his delight to be Irish champ. He had previously won the Time Trial title at junior level but his win at senior was a masterclass in the style of racing he is now famous for – a swashbuckling tactic of aggressive attacks from the pack. It may have been shock news of this new talent for some in Ireland but on the continent Healy was already on his way to stardom. The Tour de l'Avenir, translated as Tour of the Future, is the world's premier contest for young riders – it is a mini Tour De France raced at under 23 level and some of the legends of cycling first proved their worth there. Healy did just that in 2018, taking the Queen Stage, or hardest stage of the race – it brought him to the attention of the cycling scouts – this was a talent to keep an eye on. He has returned to Ireland to compete in the annual return of professionals from abroad for the National Championships and performed well in all outings – winning it a second time in 2023. He has not just the aggressive exciting style of the road but also in the race of truth or Time Trial discipline – it makes him perfect for long range attacks. Ben Healy leads Darnel Moore at Knockaderry in 2020 en route to his first senior National Road Title. Niall O'Connor / The Niall O'Connor / The / The The Irish connection He has a soft British midlands accent but he is the latest in a small but impressive group of Irish racing cyclists brought up in Britain that have sided with the country from which their relatives emigrated. There are others who took the same nationality option, most notably two time Tour de France stage winner Dan Martin, and national champions Conor Dunne and Matt Brammeier. Some did so out of patriotic interest, others for pragmatic cycling career opportunities because it opens the door to competitions – fewer riders to compete with for places. Either way Ben Healy declared for Ireland in 2016 as a teenager using the fact that his grandparents were Irish. Healy's connections to Ireland are on his father's side. Bryan Healy was born in England to parents from Waterford and Cork. They moved as economic migrants to London in the 1960s in search of work. Ben was born in 2000 and grew up in Wordsley near Birmingham where his racing cyclist father introduced him to the sport. Advertisement According to an interview with Velo magazine in 2023 he caught the bug at a local track where he spent Sunday morning sessions with his pals. In the same interview he explained that while at the beginning it was about the pragmatic nature of gaining an advantage he now delights in the Irish connection. 'I am super proud to represent that side of me,' he told Velo. 'My identity with Ireland has really grown. For sure I was a bit of an outsider within the cycling community in Ireland at first, but after a while, I started to make a few friends. 'There is still occasionally a bit of a backlash, I guess, but I really do feel welcomed and accepted, which is super nice. Now some of my really good friends within the sport are Irish. We've got a bit of a routine of going to Belfast post-season and then getting together, which is great,' he added. Ben Healy wears the coveted Tour de France yellow jersey on the podium yesterday. Alamy Stock Photo Alamy Stock Photo Success The wins kept coming after he was the youngest rider, at just 18-years-old, to win a stage in the talent spotting Tour de l'Avenir. Since then it has been a steady escalating evolution of success with wins across the season under the tutelage of Trinity Racing. He then signed in 2022 for the EF procycling set up which is now EF Education Easy Post. It was set up by anti-doping campaigner and ex cyclist Jonathan Vaughters in the wake of the Lance Armstrong scandal. This is the team where he has remained since taking major wins at the Giro d'Italia, the three week stage race that is the Italian equivalent of the Tour de France. Last year at the Olympics he led the road race across the streets of Paris for much of the spectacle in a daring and tenacious effort but his hopes were dashed and Belgian Remco Evanepoel overtook him as he tired. He has also finished on the podium of early season classics, or monuments as they are known, and is fast growing a reputation as one of the world's great puncheurs and baroudeur – cycling terms for a rider who excels over short sharp climbs on daring attacks from the peloton. It was over that very terrain and using those tactics that saw him take the Tour de France stage across the rolling and steep hills of Normandy last Thursday. 'Le Tour' is a three week event raced over multiple days in which there is a stage winner each day and an overall winner who has the least amount of time across the course. Yesterday, on a route across the French Massif Central Healy achieved a feat not seen since Stephen Roche in 1987 – he became only the fourth Irish man to take the coveted Yellow Jersey of race leader. He will likely wear it until the coming mountain stages when the big General Classification guns of Tadej Pogacar, Remco Evanepoel and Jonas Vingegaard leave the phony war of the first week behind and begin the Alpine battles for the title. Healy will likely revert back to his swashbuckling antics and join the daily lonely breakaway hunts for another stage win. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
SBS Australia
10-07-2025
- Sport
- SBS Australia
Mix results at the TT, and the Vauquelin surprise (Stage 5)
In the latest episode of the SBS Cycling Podcast, Christophe & Macka take you through the thrills of Stage 5 of the Tour de France, set along a route buzzing with fans. We break down the key moments of the day, with Remco Evenepoel stealing the spotlight thanks to his superb time trial performance. We dive into whether Remco could've taken even more time, considering his world-class ability against the clock. We also hear from Ben O'Connor, who spoke to us about bouncing back after a rough start and how he's approaching the rest of the race with renewed focus and determination.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
1000 Miglia 2025: Morning Between the Futa and Raticosa Hairpin Bends
FROM 1:00 PM THE 430 CLASSIC CARS WILL START ARRIVING IN SIENA, WHERE THEY WILL STOP IN PIAZZA DEL CAMPO BRESCIA, Italy, June 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The second leg of the 1000 Miglia 2025 left in the early morning today from Bologna. The weather continued to assist the crews, who reached the two historic 1000 Miglia passes, the Futa and the Raticosa, in view of sun-kissed Apennine panoramas. Along the stretch connecting the two passes, the first Average Trial of this edition was also held. 'The roar of the engines at the start and the smell of paraffin for me are synonymous only with the 1000 Miglia – Joe Bastianich's statement while waiting for the Time Control at the start of the leg in Bologna – today we will be in Siena, in the Chianti region, and in Rome, the Caput Mundi city. It will be an adventure, we are doing very well, and we are happy that the weather is assisting us.' The classification updated after Time Trial 32 sees Erejemovic-Llanos in the lead in a 1929 Alfa Romeo 6C 1500 Ss, who, with today's first sports trials, have overtaken the defending champions Andrea Vesco and Fabio Salvinelli, who had ended yesterday's leg in first position. Still in third position is the Belometti-Ricca crew in a 1929 Lancia Lambda Spider Tipo 221. Hotz-Mozzi remain in the lead of the Ferrari Tribute with an F8 Spider, and so do Magni-Giavardi in a Polestar 4 for the 1000 Miglia Green. Around 9.15 am, the convoy reached Prato: after the Time Control on the banks of the Bisenzio River, the cars made their way through the heart of the Tuscan town, passing through Piazza Duomo, Piazza San Francesco and Piazza Santa Maria delle Carceri, greeting the Prato public with a Passage Control in front of the Emperor's Castle. It was then the turn of the Time Trials in the Linari area, after which it was the Val d'Elsa that accompanied the convoy to the arrival in Piazza del Campo in Siena, for the iconic glimpse of the liveries parked on the tricolour synthetic in the famous square of the Palio delle Contrade. Press Office+393316133162 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at in to access your portfolio
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mario Kart World all items & tricks guide: Rail grinding, wall riding & tips for Nintendo Switch 2
Mario Kart World - Nintendo Switch 2: If you're racing through Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2, understanding the full list of items and how to use them can give you a serious edge. This fast, fun racing game brings new item mechanics, new tracks, and even new tricks like rail grinding and wall riding. Every decision matters—from which item you pick up to how you move on the track. This isn't just another console game. It's built for smart plays on the most powerful hybrid console yet. Let's go racing! This week, @nadiaoxford & I take on the all-new Mario Kart World on Nintendo Switch 2! Will they take the checkered flag? Will they discover something no one's ever seen? Will they talk about cows? Find out at 5pm EST on In this guide, you'll get a clear breakdown of every item in Mario Kart World, plus actionable tips on how to grind rails and ride walls for real in-game advantages. We've skipped the fluff and focused only on what helps you win races, especially if you're racing online or pushing for Time Trial records. Let's start with the item list. 🎁 All Mario Kart World Items (And What They Do) Items can completely change the outcome of a race. Here's a quick list of all confirmed items and what each one does in Mario Kart World. 🔥 Offensive Items Red Shell – Tracks the kart ahead and knocks them off course Green Shell – Travels in a straight line and bounces off walls Bob-omb – Explodes after a short delay or on impact Fire Flower – Lets you throw fireballs that bounce and damage others Boomerang Flower – Hits racers on the way out and back 🛡️ Defensive & Utility Items Banana Peel – Causes karts to spin out if they hit it Super Horn – Destroys nearby items (including Blue Shells) Mushroom – Gives you a temporary speed boost Triple Mushrooms – Three boosts you can use one at a time Star – Grants invincibility and higher speed for a few seconds Bullet Bill – Transforms your kart into a fast auto-driving rocket 🌀 Special & Rare Items Blue Shell – Seeks out the leading racer and causes a big explosion Piranha Plant – Bites nearby racers and obstacles while boosting you Golden Mushroom – Allows rapid, repeated boosts for a limited time Lightning – Shrinks and slows down every opponent Crazy Eight – Gives you eight random items that rotate around your kart 🛹 How to Grind Rails in Mario Kart World? Rail grinding is one of the new mechanics introduced in Mario Kart World, designed for the Nintendo Switch 2. It's perfect for skipping parts of the track or hitting secret speed zones. Steps to Grind Rails: Look for a rail – You'll find glowing rails hanging above or across certain sections Line up your kart – Steer under the rail smoothly Press the grind button – Usually mapped to a shoulder button Maintain balance – Use the analog stick to stay on track Exit cleanly – Steer off or hit the button again to return to the track Pro Tip: Grinding is most useful when timed correctly with boost items or shortcuts. Learning where rails appear on each map gives you a big advantage. 🧱 How to Wall Ride in Mario Kart World? Wall riding lets you stick to angled walls and continue driving, giving you better angles and sometimes access to alternate paths. It's a new trick exclusive to this hybrid console version of Mario Kart. How to Wall Ride: Approach a wall with a slight curve or ramp Drive up the wall at high speed Use light steering to stay aligned Drop back down cleanly once the wall ends or reconnects to the track Why Use Wall Riding? It can let you avoid crowded parts of the track. Some wall paths contain item boxes or speed boosts. It's a shortcut in certain maps when used correctly. Understanding how items work—and learning new moves like wall riding and rail grinding—will help you race smarter in Mario Kart World. This racing game isn't just about speed. It's about using every tool and technique available on the Nintendo Switch 2, the most advanced console game platform from Nintendo yet. Whether you're a casual player or chasing wins online, mastering these tricks can make all the difference. FAQs Q1: Can beginners grind rails and ride walls easily?Yes. Both moves are simple to learn with a bit of practice. Start in Time Trial mode to get the hang of them. Q2: Are wall riding and rail grinding available on all tracks?No. These features only appear on certain tracks designed with vertical elements or rail placements. Q3: Do I need a specific character or kart to grind or wall ride?No. Every character and kart can use these moves, though lighter karts may have an easier time balancing. Q4: Are these features only in the Nintendo Switch 2 version?Yes. Rail grinding and wall riding are exclusive to Mario Kart World on the Nintendo Switch 2. To stay updated on the stories that are going viral, follow Indiatimes Trending.
Daily Mirror
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
F1 25 review – strong handling evolution but big My Team 2 rework disappoints
F1 25 delivers the most balanced and accessible handling model yet, with some key physics evolutions. F1 25, the official video game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship, is here. While it delivers some positive handling changes and takes a step forward graphically, the new My Team experience doesn't quite hit the mark. With the 2025 Formula One season now eight races in, F1 25 is finally in the hands of racing enthusiasts everywhere. The good news is that there's been a significant update to one of the most popular game modes, a refinement of the handling model, three new reverse tracks, a big upgrade to the game's appearance, and more. The bad news is that, while most of the upgrades work brilliantly, perhaps the biggest one of all – the reimagining of My Team – doesn't quite make the overtake stick. Realism revamped F1 25's handling and physics model are definitely an evolution compared to F1 24 and they deliver some key changes. After spending a fair bit of time with F1 25, albeit mostly in default setups due to time constraints, the most obvious change you'll feel as soon as you jump into the car is that the super pointy front end that F1 24 became known for isn't really there anymore; instead, it's been replaced by some inherent understeer at corner entry. Personally, I think this is a step in the right direction, and it makes the car a bit more predictable, and much more stable at corner entry. This change also probably (I say probably as I've never driven a real-life Formula 1 car, sadly) brings the handling model more in line with real life, as you often hear F1 drivers talk about the current era of cars being more understeer-y – although not if your name's Max Verstappen, who apparently likes a really pointy front end. In fact, stability is a key theme in F1 25, as there's also a slight increase in traction, particularly at corner exit, giving you even more confidence to put your foot down and push the limits. Although this does make the cars more stable in high and medium speed corners, it does make it more difficult to nail the slow speed corners, as the added understeer, combined with a slight increase in instability in mid-corner and more dangerous kerbs (more on that later), means these cars feel more clumsy than ever at slow speeds. Which is, again, probably more akin to how a real-life F1 car behaves. The cars are slower in F1 25, without a doubt, I've found I'm between five- tenths and one second slower on Time Trial, depending on the circuit, which is probably due to the fact that you have to drive the cars like F1 cars to get the best lap time, in my short time with the game anyway. The 'flick' technique, which was a fast yet unrealistic way of getting lap time in F1 24, thankfully, isn't nearly as effective in F1 25, and in races especially, you'll find that your tyres will go off very quickly if you're doing that consistently. Obviously, I'm a decent sim racer and absolutely not an esports driver, so pro players may well find a new, unrealistic way of getting lap time after the game is realised, but I wasn't able to find one! Speaking of tyres, overall tyre wear has increased significantly compared to F1 24, and the sliding scale in terms of grip is much harsher as they wear. When you get to 30%, 40%, 50% and then 60% wear, you'll notice a huge loss of traction at corner exit, loss of braking performance, and tumbling lap times, which should add some much-needed strategy options during races, as some races will definitely be faster with a two-stop strategy. Kerbs are also much harsher this time around, and on tracks like Imola, Singapore and Suzuka, they're particularly dangerous; although there are some tracks where the kerbs are noticeably flatter, like Austria, Australia and Bahrain, for example, (mostly the ones which have been LIDAR scanned) and you'll need to attack them in order to get the best lap time. As much as players want it to be, F1 games will never be full-on simulation racing games like Assetto Corsa or iRacing; this is a game for the masses, the Drive to Survive and F1 Movie fans, and it needs to be accessible enough that anyone can jump in and play. But F1 25's handling model does feel like a significant upgrade, and the changes that have been made this year are certainly positive, in my opinion. It's not F1 23, but it's not F1 24 either, and it's probably the most balanced model we've seen yet. The game's AI has taken some flak over the last few years, either for being too aggressive and causing collisions, or not being aggressive enough and being too easy to overtake, and I think this year there's a decent balance between the two, although it's not perfect. The AI will defend from moves up to a point, but will also give you room if you're side-by-side and will often be happy to be squeezed out, so I'd say it's probably slightly on the too-easy side, from what I can make out with the short time I've had with the game anyway, but not by much. Hey good looking F1 25 is comfortably the best-looking F1 game ever, with a number of enhancements, big and small, leading to significant graphical improvements. The five updated tracks – Bahrain, Miami, Melbourne, Suzuka and Imola – which have been rebuilt with the use of LIDAR technology supplied by FOM and F1 from race weekends, are absolutely stunning, and this really adds to the immersion when you're blasting around, even at over 200mph. The tracks themselves feature some reprofiling of corners, new kerbs, more accurate sponsor boards and more realistic surroundings. There's also been some improved lighting effects, which might seem like a small thing, but it's actually made a huge difference in how the game looks, particularly in daytime races, which are now much brighter and vibrant. For PC players, you can also play F1 25 with Path Tracing for the very first time, if you've got a powerful enough PC, of course. I don't, so I couldn't try this out. When EA Sports announced that three reverse tracks would be coming to F1 25 – Silverstone, Zandvoort and Red Bull Ring – I didn't really feel excited about it, if I'm honest. But, I have to say, after spending more time with the game, I think they're a superb addition, with Austria and Zandvoort in particular being excellent tracks to race in reverse, and they'll provide a unique challenge even for the most experienced sim racers out there. In my F1 24 review, I said that one of my favourite things about the game was the addition of the real-life radio messages that played out after wins, podiums, race finishes and crashes, and I'm delighted to say that EA Sports has almost doubled the amount of lines for these moments, including adding some lines from team principals too, which is a really nice touch. On a personal note, one of my absolute favourite things about F1 25 is the addition of a Braking Assist Cue option in the Accessibility menu, which feeds a beep into your ear when you need to brake for a corner. I've been working really hard and putting in the hours to stop using the racing line, but one of the hardest things about not having it on is having no reference point for braking, but this new addition is an absolute game changer. My Team, or is it? EA Sports' biggest marketing push for F1 25 was My Team 2.0, a complete redesign and reimagining of the popular My Team game mode. This year, instead of being an owner-driver, you'll be just the owner, managing an entire team with more detail and depth than ever before, as well as racing as one of your two employed drivers every race weekend. But, for me, it doesn't quite hit the mark. Let's talk about the positives first because this is, without doubt, the most detailed and deep My Team experience to date. There's always something to do, and there are menus, submenus, and sub-submenus across the three main departments – Engineering, Personnel, and Corporate – where you manage the development of the car, negotiate driver contracts, manage your workforce, manage your budget in line with the cost cap (yes, it's in the game!) and even manage sponsor negotiations. It sounds like a lot to juggle – and it is – but there are handy prompts that appear when you really need to do something, and there's always the virtual help manual in the Team HQ if you get stuck. Then there's the superb Decal Editor, which is a really nice addition that will give players the chance to be creative and create the car design they really want, rather than having to settle for a predetermined option. But being solely the owner of the team has impacted my enjoyment of actually driving the car, which should be the main focus of an F1 game. The great thing about My Team was how immersive it felt; even if it was ridiculous and unrealistic to be an owner-driver of an F1 team, getting wins, podiums, and points with the car felt super rewarding and immersive because it was me driving the car. When you start a new My Team save in F1 25, you have a limited choice of non-customisable, middle-aged owner avatars that might, or might not, look like you. So there's already a bit of a disconnect there. Then, when choosing which driver you want to drive as each weekend – which in my case was Franco Colapinto or Juan Manual Correa – you're then thrown into the situation where you are now the driver you employ, and not the owner, which completely breaks the immersion and, even after getting a good result, I struggled to feel any satisfaction, because it's not me driving the car. Wasn't that the whole point? EA Sports and Codemasters have clearly put a lot of effort into this reimagining, and the mode itself is now the in-depth, comprehensive management experience that players were crying out for. However, I can't help feeling that keeping the driver-owner concept would have been a much better experience, particularly when you're driving the car. The mode delivers on the in-depth experience players wanted, but the fantasy of taking podiums as an F1 driver has well and truly been ruined. Overall, F1 25 features a number of improvements compared to F1 24, with improved handling, realism, graphics, gameplay options, and customisation. It has a more balanced handling and physics model, improved visuals, more accurate tracks and excellent reverse circuits. However, the reimagining of the popular My Team mode didn't quite work for me, despite it being by far the most detailed and in-depth ever, and I can see it being a love-or-hate scenario with the community.
