Latest news with #riders
The Independent
6 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Photos show an epic endurance race celebrating the bond between people and horses in Kyrgyzstan
For equestrian riders, the endurance race known as the Gallops is the ultimate test of stamina and self-discipline. First hosted in India in 2019, the event challenges teams of international riders to a five-day trek spanning more than 200 kilometers (125 miles) as part of a race inspired by the famous Paris-Dakar rally. The Gallops' 2025 edition is taking place in Kyrgyzstan — a Central Asian country with a deep-rooted traditional nomadic culture. The race begins in the village of Kyzart, around 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) above sea level, before taking competitors hailing from 12 countries on a journey close to Song-Köl Lake. As well as camping in traditional Kyrgyz yurts, riders are able to experience some of Kyrgyzstan's other equestrian sports including horseback archery and Kok Boru. The latter is a game that sees two teams compete to place a goat's carcass — or, in modern matches, often a model of one — in their opponents' goal. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
Zawya
10 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Talabat rolls out rest stations across Kuwait to provide riders with comfortable work environment
Kuwait: As part of its annual summer campaign for riders, talabat, the leading on-demand online ordering and delivery platform in the MENA region, is bringing back its rest stop initiative, with four strategically located, air-conditioned buses across Kuwait. This initiative aligns with the company's corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy and commitment to providing riders with a safe working environment where their health and wellbeing remains the top priority, especially during summertime. Building on the initiative's success for four consecutive years, talabat continues to extend its welcome this year to all riders across Kuwait. Including those from outside its network, to rest and replenish at any of its bus stop rest areas. These stations are well-equipped with comfortable seating, water, and first-aid essentials, reinforcing talabat's role in promoting inclusivity and accessibility for all. Commenting on the revival of the initiative, Bader Al-Ghanim, Vice President and Managing Director of talabat Kuwait, said: 'Our role in the communities we serve extends beyond delivery. We are invested in the wellbeing of every individual who contributes to keeping our ecosystem running, starting with the riders. These rest stations, launched as part of our summer campaign for the fourth year in a row, reflect our continued efforts to ensure safe and comfortable working conditions for riders all year long.' He added: 'As part of our day to day operation, which is powered by a wide network of riders, logistics partners, and support teams, we remain deeply aware of the unique challenges they face on the ground every day. This understanding drives us to provide meaningful support that responds to the nature of their work, with a strong focus on health, wellbeing and improving the overall work environment.' Although talabat riders are hired through logistics partners, Al-Ghanim confirmed that the talabat remains responsible for ensuring they receive insurance coverage, summer kits, and regular access to road safety workshops and health screenings. He emphasized that riders are core contributors to the reliable, high-quality service that talabat delivers to its customers, and as such, remain a top priority within the company's wellbeing efforts. It's worth noting that the fully equipped rest station initiative rolled out across Kuwait is just one of several efforts talabat has launched during the summer to support rider wellbeing and promote safer, more comfortable working conditions on the road. Through initiatives like these, talabat continues to lead by example, demonstrating how companies can adopt a people-first approach rooted in long-term commitment to those at the heart of the delivery ecosystem.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Tour de France 2025 live: Stage 16 route and updates today as riders tackle infamous Mont Ventoux
The Tour de France has made it through a gruelling three days in the Pyrenees and the riders have enjoyed a well-earned rest day in Montpellier - but hostilities recommence today as the race enters the Alps for the first time. Tadej Pogacar rampaged through the Pyrenees, winning atop Hautacam on stage 12, then demolishing the field in the time trial on stage 13, and those back-to-back wins have gone some way to ensuring the destiny of the Tour de France title is looking fairly well sewn up. Now with a rest day in his legs Pogacar's stranglehold over this Tour is likely to continue as the race returns to his favourite terrain, with the 'Giant of Provence' - Mont Ventoux - the star of the show today. It's the only climb on the menu on a 171.5km run from Montpellier to the summit, setting up an intriguing day's racing. Stage 16 preview Isolated in the landscape, towering over the Rhone valley and on the periphery of the Alps proper, Mont Ventoux is something of an outlier among the Tour's formidable ascents - but that makes it no less beastly. 15.7km long at an average gradient of 8.8%, reaching 1,910m above sea level, it has long been established in the annals of Tour history and plenty of riders will fancy writing their names into the history books with victory on its summit today. Flo Clifford22 July 2025 10:04
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Highlights: Pro Motocross Round 8, Washougal
Relive all of the action from the eighth round of Pro Motocross at Washougal National in Washington.
New York Times
3 days ago
- Sport
- New York Times
Why do Tour de France cyclists ride their bikes on rest days?
You're two-thirds of the way into the most gruelling, demanding bike race on earth. You've ridden 2,389 kilometres (1,484 miles) in the previous couple of weeks, with a solid proportion of those being up and down some of France's most unrelenting mountains. Throw in the searing heat, the crashes, the incessant aches and pains, plus the intensity and the nervousness that cycling in the Tour de France brings on a daily basis and, when you've got a day off, you might never want to see a bike again. So what do you do on your rest day? You get on your bike of course. It's a curious notion, but one that is backed up by science. Not that all the 166 riders still in the race who have a free day in Montpellier today (Monday, July 21) will do the same thing. A few may choose not to ride at all, perhaps to alleviate minor injuries or irritations, but most will get the legs pumping. Advertisement 'The main aim for us is that it's a real recovery day,' Loic Segaert, a coach for Bahrain Victorious, told The Athletic. 'The ride also shouldn't be an obligation — we want to have them all on the bike to have an active recovery, to not have sore legs the day after, but on the ride itself, actually we leave our guys free. 'We will motivate them to not ride all day at 20kph, let's say, and to have zero force on the pedals — but if somebody just wants to do it steadily, easy, this is fine. 'A few others will try to raise the heart rate a little bit to get some effort done, to not go too fresh into the next day, to stay in the rhythm. 'It also depends on what your target is for the next stage.' Rest day on #TDF2025 = Coffee ride ☕️🚴♂️ — Équipe Cycliste Groupama-FDJ (@GroupamaFDJ) July 15, 2025 Riders who are targeting getting in the breakaway the following day may have a more active rest day than others, then. The day after this rest day sees the riders head up one of the most iconic cycling destinations in the world, Mont Ventoux. It will be a brutal, punishing experience and going up stiff and cold isn't really an option. Former Team Sky rider Russell Downing once explained how an inactive rest day cost him dearly during his Grand Tour debut in the 2011 Giro d'Italia. 'It was a hard race, the weather was bad and by the first rest day I was really tired,' he told Cycling Weekly. 'The others asked if I was going with them, but it was cold and raining and I said I'd go on the turbo in the hotel basement instead. I did that for about 45 minutes, just very easy, then went back upstairs to lie down. 'Next day, I was nailed for the whole stage, just hanging on. I was OK the day after, but I'd learnt my lesson and rode with the boys on the next rest day. Advertisement 'If you don't ride reasonably hard on the rest day, your body thinks you've stopped and switches off ready for deep recovery. You've got to keep it firing for the whole three weeks.' Another staple part of the rest day, other than media and sponsor duties, is finding a good coffee shop. Which pastries have the Tour de France riders been eating on their rest day? 🥐🧁 — Cycling on TNT Sports (@cyclingontnt) July 15, 2025 Segaert says that was high on Bahrain Victorious' priority list during last week's rest day. 'Just have an easy ride, good roads, no stress, find a nice coffee stop, which was a pretty popular one as I heard half of the bunch was there,' Segaert adds. 'For them, (coffee) is part of being relaxed. Maybe you and me, we are happy to go to a bar in the evening and drink a beer. Let's say this is their relaxing time, their chatting time, a little bit of holiday during this three-week big effort. 'Massage is also part of (the rest day), osteo-treatment is part of it. As on the day before, we had a long transfer post-stage, and there was actually no option to do it in the evening. 'The rest day is one day they can sleep for longer in the morning, have a relaxed breakfast, go for a ride, have a free afternoon except for a one-hour massage, and 30 minutes of osteotreatment. Maybe if some of them have family or a girlfriend passing at the hotel, they can have a relaxing afternoon and then an early dinner and sleep.' Enjoying the rest day coffee ride ☕✅ — #TeamVingegaard (@vingeupdates) July 15, 2025 It's a day to relax – but switching off during the Tour de France isn't really an option, as none other than Netherlands national team manager Ronald Koeman observed when he joined Visma–Lease a Bike during last Tuesday's rest day. Koeman was surprised that pretty much anyone can join in a team's rest day ride, with amateur cyclists following the pros around France. Advertisement 'There's so much money in cycling — people invest in nutrition, fitness and data — and then some idiot who rides along as an amateur just bumps into Jonas Vingegaard,' he told WielerFlits. 'I find it truly unbelievable that this is possible and allowed. It's nice that they're so approachable, but a bit of safety and peace of mind are also important.' Honored to welcome the visit of football legend Ronald Koeman during the Tour de France rest day ⚽️ — Intermarché-Wanty (@IntermarcheW) July 15, 2025 Vingegaard concurred, adding: 'I actually agree with it. I remember a reconnaissance from two years ago of the time trial to Combloux. Several cyclists were also riding there, and they almost brought Wilco Kelderman down. It can indeed be dangerous.' EF Education EasyPost rider Kasper Asgreen rode 40 kilometres on last Tuesday's rest day. He told The Athletic: 'I think it's very individual. I've also had team-mates who prefer to just take the day off. For me, I prefer to ride easy. I did a bit of a shorter loop than some of the other guys today. 'Some guys do a bit longer, some do efforts. I think it's just whatever you feel comfortable with really and what makes you feel good the next day. Luckily, we go through a lot of kilometres in a year, so you have a pretty good idea of what you normally like to do. 'For my own self, just really easy, 180, 200 watts, spinning the legs, but yes, like I said, some guys also like to go out and either do some sprints or some longer efforts at threshold or zone three or whatever, like it's highly individual.' Additional reporting by Jacob Whitehead
