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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Can Le Court make women's Tour history for Africa?
When Kim le Court pedals up to the Tour de France Femmes start line, the cyclist knows she will represent not just her team but the whole of Africa. Yet, hailing from the tiny island nation of Mauritius, the chance to race alongside the world's elite once seemed a distant dream. "I came to Europe in 2015-16 and it was honestly extremely hard for me. My team-mates now still laugh about my results back then," the 29-year-old told BBC Sport Africa. "I just came last every day and was just surviving those races. I was hating it. "When I speak to young female cyclists now, I tell them that I come from a small island in the middle of nowhere that for a long time no-one had really heard of, and I made it. And if I made it, they can too." Le Court describes that first stint in Europe when still a teenager as "a shock to the system", with both support structures and financial challenges contributing to her struggles. She returned to the continent, basing herself in South Africa, and it has been a long journey since those early setbacks. As well as rediscovering her form in Africa, Le Court also recorded victories in mountain bike races. After discussions with her now-husband Ian Pienaar, she decided to give road racing in Europe another go. "I'm super hungry for more and for new beginnings," she said. "It didn't work out for me in 2015, 2016, but he (Ian) always knew that I've always wanted to belong there. And of course, the growth of woman's cycling since I was there [until] now has been huge." She secured a contract with the AG Insurance–Soudal team for 2024 but, after overcoming a wrist injury, top-level success has only really arrived in the past twelve months. Tackling the 'next level' Tour In July last year - almost 10 years since her debut as a professional – Le Court recorded her biggest win when a gruelling sprint finish on the final stage of the Giro d'Italia saw her become Africa's first female rider to win a stage on one of cycling's Grand Tours. In April she hit the headlines once more, triumphing at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race, again becoming the first African woman to do so. "It was extremely special," she said. "I'm still quite taken back on what I have achieved for me personally, as a rider but also for my country, the continent I'm from and especially my team." Now comes her second attempt at the Tour de France, which starts in the historic walled town of Vannes in Brittany, north-west France, on Saturday. Extended to nine stages for its fourth edition, the chance to compete for the famous yellow jersey alongside over 150 other riders is a tantalising prospect. "The Tour de France is just next level compared to all the other races," Le Court explained. "The media attention, the crowds, the pressure, it is three or four times more intense! "It is hard to explain unless you have been there, physically, to experience it. But at the same time it is a race that brings out the best in everyone. "There are definitely a few stages that I have in mind which fit my profile." Le Court is well aware of the importance of staying healthy at these long, multi-stage races, especially after several female riders had to pull out of this year's Giro d'Italia because of illness. "There is no hiding at the Tour de France, which is something I personally really like. "It shows what your work ethic as a rider really is. "It is the dream race for all professional men and women cyclists. They all want to be there, they all want to win a stage. "Even just making the team selection is a big achievement." A 'true hope' for Africa Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay has broken barriers in men's cycling with his landmark victories at the Giro and the Tour de France, and Le Court believes that a historic Tour stage win for her over the next two weeks would also have a significant impact on the continent. Currently ranked in the top 20 female riders in the world, she has been hailed as "more than an athlete" by the next generation. "For me, Kim le Court is a true hope for Africa," Georgette Vignonfodo, an 18-year-old cyclist from Benin, told BBC Sport Africa. "She embodies courage, perseverance and pure talent. "She represents an example to follow, a source of inspiration for all those who dream big despite obstacles." In Ethiopia, fellow teenager Tsige Kahsay is also keenly watching Le Court's progress. "It makes me so happy when I see Africans race and win on the world stage on TV," the rapidly rising 18-year-old said. "When I see Kim, Ashleigh [Moolman-Pasio] and Biniam from Africa there, it is so motivational. "My dream is now to be the first Black African queen of cycling, and one day race at the Tour de France." Kahsay and Vignonfodo are part of the Africa 2025 project run by the UCI, cycling's world governing body, which aims to help talent from the continent access the best training and development ahead of the Road World Championships, which take place on African soil for the first time in September in Rwanda. Riders like Le Court are the inspiration for these youngsters, and securing a slice of history at the Tour could prove a defining moment in the growth of African cycling.
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Can Le Court make women's Tour history for Africa?
When Kim le Court pedals up to the Tour de France Femmes start line, the cyclist knows she will represent not just her team but the whole of hailing from the tiny island nation of Mauritius, the chance to race alongside the world's elite once seemed a distant dream."I came to Europe in 2015-16 and it was honestly extremely hard for me. My team-mates now still laugh about my results back then," the 29-year-old told BBC Sport Africa."I just came last every day and was just surviving those races. I was hating it."When I speak to young female cyclists now, I tell them that I come from a small island in the middle of nowhere that for a long time no-one had really heard of, and I made it. And if I made it, they can too."Le Court describes that first stint in Europe when still a teenager as "a shock to the system", with both support structures and financial challenges contributing to her returned to the continent, basing herself in South Africa, and it has been a long journey since those early well as rediscovering her form in Africa, Le Court also recorded victories in mountain bike races. After discussions with her now-husband Ian Pienaar, she decided to give road racing in Europe another go."I'm super hungry for more and for new beginnings," she said."It didn't work out for me in 2015, 2016, but he (Ian) always knew that I've always wanted to belong there. And of course, the growth of woman's cycling since I was there [until] now has been huge."She secured a contract with the AG Insurance–Soudal team for 2024 but, after overcoming a wrist injury, top-level success has only really arrived in the past twelve months. Tackling the 'next level' Tour In July last year - almost 10 years since her debut as a professional – Le Court recorded her biggest win when a gruelling sprint finish on the final stage of the Giro d'Italia saw her become Africa's first female rider to win a stage on one of cycling's Grand April she hit the headlines once more, triumphing at the Liege-Bastogne-Liege race, again becoming the first African woman to do so."It was extremely special," she said."I'm still quite taken back on what I have achieved for me personally, as a rider but also for my country, the continent I'm from and especially my team."Now comes her second attempt at the Tour de France, which starts in the historic walled town of Vannes in Brittany, north-west France, on to nine stages for its fourth edition, the chance to compete for the famous yellow jersey alongside over 150 other riders is a tantalising prospect."The Tour de France is just next level compared to all the other races," Le Court explained."The media attention, the crowds, the pressure, it is three or four times more intense!"It is hard to explain unless you have been there, physically, to experience it. But at the same time it is a race that brings out the best in everyone."There are definitely a few stages that I have in mind which fit my profile."Le Court is well aware of the importance of staying healthy at these long, multi-stage races, especially after several female riders had to pull out of this year's Giro d'Italia because of illness."There is no hiding at the Tour de France, which is something I personally really like."It shows what your work ethic as a rider really is."It is the dream race for all professional men and women cyclists. They all want to be there, they all want to win a stage."Even just making the team selection is a big achievement." A 'true hope' for Africa Eritrean rider Biniam Girmay has broken barriers in men's cycling with his landmark victories at the Giro and the Tour de France, and Le Court believes that a historic Tour stage win for her over the next two weeks would also have a significant impact on the ranked in the top 20 female riders in the world, she has been hailed as "more than an athlete" by the next generation."For me, Kim le Court is a true hope for Africa," Georgette Vignonfodo, an 18-year-old cyclist from Benin, told BBC Sport Africa."She embodies courage, perseverance and pure talent."She represents an example to follow, a source of inspiration for all those who dream big despite obstacles."In Ethiopia, fellow teenager Tsige Kahsay is also keenly watching Le Court's progress."It makes me so happy when I see Africans race and win on the world stage on TV," the rapidly rising 18-year-old said."When I see Kim, Ashleigh [Moolman-Pasio] and Biniam from Africa there, it is so motivational."My dream is now to be the first Black African queen of cycling, and one day race at the Tour de France."Kahsay and Vignonfodo are part of the Africa 2025 project run by the UCI, cycling's world governing body, which aims to help talent from the continent access the best training and development ahead of the Road World Championships, which take place on African soil for the first time in September in like Le Court are the inspiration for these youngsters, and securing a slice of history at the Tour could prove a defining moment in the growth of African cycling.
The Sun
22-07-2025
- Sport
- The Sun
Irish cycling community ‘devastated' at the death of champion ‘stalwart of road scene' aged 52
THE Irish cycling community is in mourning following the sudden death of a star rider. Craig Sweetman, 52, late of Mornington, Co Meath and Skerries in Dublin, had made eleven appearances in Rás Tailteann and also competed internationally, having made his debut in Japan in 2002. Sweetman had attended the Peter Bidwell race in Donore last Saturday evening. However, he was not racing due to an injury and sadly died at his home on Sunday after taking ill. posted a tribute to the married father-of-two who celebrated with his teenage son, Toby, recently after he won a stage of the Junior Tour of Ireland. It read: 'Craig was such a likeable guy and a superb rider, he was still racing and a regular at events. "His son Toby has followed in dad's footsteps and is very successful in the junior ranks. This is devastating news for the cycling.' said that the long-term member of Stamullen Road Club in Meath was a popular figure on the Irish road racing scene for decades. They wrote: 'He was a stalwart of the Irish road scene, with a racing career marked by a rare long-term commitment that included eleven appearances in Rás Tailteann. "He was also an international rider, making his debut at the Tour of Hokkaido in Japan in 2002. "Craig was also second in the Classic League in 2002 and won a large number of races at the height of his career, including being crowned men's senior Leinster road race champion. "He was still placing in races this year and two years ago won the Masters 50 title at Masters National Road Race Championships in Clonard, Co Meath. Bizarre moment Tour de France rider snatches cardboard sign off stunned fan... but had brilliant reason for doing it "He had remained very committed to cycling down the years, and passed on much of his vast knowledge to younger riders and those in the early stages of their racing careers.' Mr Sweetman worked for the Dublin Airport Police and Fire Authority. He is survived by his wife Gill, their sons Toby and Tyler, parents Tony and Mona, siblings Jeff, Dale and Kadie, extended family, work colleagues and a large circle of friends. He will lie in repose at his home on Wednesday from 5-8pm. His removal will take place on Thursday to St Patrick's Church, Skerries arriving for 10am mass. Mourners will then gather at Dardistown Crematorium.
BBC News
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- BBC News
TT stars to return for rebranded classic races
A host of road racing stars are set to take to the Mountain Course once again next month for the return of the Classic TT TT race win record holder Michael Dunlop will be competing alongside fellow 2025 TT winners Dean Harrison and Davey Todd, who was also crowned Southern 100 solo champion this will see classic and vintage machinery compete in the Lightweight, Formula 1, Senior and Historic Junior and Senior classes on the 37.7-mile (61km) Isle of Man TT racing in August on the Isle of Man was last run in 2019, but the brand was withdrawn when road racing returned in 2022 following the coronavirus pandemic. At that point, classic racing was brought into the fold of the Manx Grand Prix races, which it had run alongside each year since previously said the change was part of a bid to boost visitor numbers to the island for the late summer notable names due to compete include 23-time TT winner John McGuinness, Southern 100 winners Mike Browne and Rob Hodson, and Manxmen Conor Cummins and Nathan for the MGP begins on 17 August, with Classic TT competitors due to get time on the course three days Classic TT races themselves will be held on 27 and 29 August. Read more stories from the Isle of Man on the BBC, watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer and follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook, external and X, external.
New York Times
11-07-2025
- Automotive
- New York Times
How Shane van Gisbergen has quickly become NASCAR's best road racer
CHICAGO — In the two short years since New Zealand's Shane van Gisbergen burst onto the NASCAR scene with a stunning victory in his debut, the questions around stock car racing have shifted from 'Who is this guy?' to 'Is he NASCAR's best road racer ever?' Both questions are valid, given how quickly and decisively the driver known by his initials has established himself as the one to beat on non-ovals — especially in a parity-filled era for the NASCAR Cup Series in which every car has the same basic construction and parts. Advertisement 'Has there been someone with this big of an advantage on road courses …? I don't think so,' three-time Daytona winner Denny Hamlin said on his 'Actions Detrimental' podcast on Monday. 'You certainly would think SVG, relative to the field, has got a bigger gap than anybody in history.' To Hamlin's point: The analytics service NASCAR Insights noted this week van Gisbergen's average running position on road and street courses this season is 3.34 — and the next closest is 10.09 (Christopher Bell). Similarly, van Gisbergen won the pole position at Chicago last week by 0.47 seconds — a gap so significant, it was larger than the margin from second to eighth on the starting grid. He then won the race and is the heavy favorite again this Sunday when NASCAR visits another road course in Sonoma, Calif. So how the heck is he doing this in an era of equal cars and the most talented overall group of road racers NASCAR has seen? Let's take a look at some of the key factors. NASCAR drivers are traditionally from an oval-racing background, which requires a much different skill set. In the broadest terms, oval racing is about putting a car right on the edge of spinning out while floating it through the corner and competing in close proximity to other drivers. Road-course racing is much more about hard-charging precision as the field gets spread out, which can feel more about racing against the track than the other drivers at times. That has always opened the door for 'road-course ringers' to enter NASCAR non-oval races and have a good showing, but few have ever adapted as quickly as van Gisbergen. Former Indianapolis 500 winner and seven-time Formula One race winner Juan Pablo Montoya, for example, came to NASCAR to compete full-time in the Cup Series for seven seasons and won two of his 14 road-course starts (14 percent); van Gisbergen's win rate on those tracks is currently at 33 percent (three of nine), which has already made him the winningest foreign-born driver in NASCAR history. Advertisement Similarly, other open-wheel drivers like Montoya have been very respectable but not remarkable. In recent years, former F1 world champions Kimi Räikkönen and Jenson Button have made Cup starts on road courses; in five combined starts, they have a best finish of 18th (Button at Austin's Circuit of the Americas in 2023). What gives van Gisbergen an edge, even over an F1 or IndyCar driver who enters a NASCAR road race, may be his background in Australia's Supercars series. While those vehicles are touring cars and not stock cars, they are somewhat cousins of NASCAR's current model Cup Series car (the 'Next Gen' or 'Gen 7' car). Last year, van Gisbergen told The Athletic that while the Next Gen car is 'way different' than a Supercar, 'it's still more relevant than most of the stock cars here,' which he said 'drive like a forklift, where the rear end is doing the steering.' Except that type of driving is exactly what longtime NASCAR drivers are used to and more comfortable with — as opposed to the four-year-old Next Gen car, which shares characteristics with an IMSA sports car designed for road racing. 'The Cup car (now) is relative to pretty much every other race car in the world,' van Gisbergen said. 'It just feels like a normal car. You're like, 'OK, I can push on and be comfortable with this, get a feel.'' When van Gisbergen won the inaugural NASCAR Chicago Street Course race in 2023 in what was supposed to be a one-off start, the shocking victory captured the world's attention. Over in Europe, van Gisbergen's friend and sim racing teammate Max Verstappen — the four-time Formula One world champion — was up late watching and was 'literally screaming in front of my monitor for him to win that,' according to The Race. Verstappen called van Gisbergen 'a crazy right-foot braker,' a reference to the so-called 'heel-toe' footwork technique in which a driver uses the same foot to both hit the gas (on the far right, as in a street car) and the brake. But most race car drivers use their left foot to brake instead of placing it on the clutch pedal to help brake into the corners, as van Gisbergen and his Supercars colleagues in Australia do. Advertisement 'It's quite insane that he's that fast with that technique,' Verstappen said. '… I mean, I can't do it. But he grew up like that.' Essentially, using heel-toe helps the car slow and turn more efficiently on a road course. After van Gisbergen's 2023 victory, former NASCAR and open-wheel racer Max Papis posted on X that 'NO (left foot) braker will ever be able to control rear stability on hot (tires) or slick damp track better than (right foot) plus clutch usage.' Take a look at @shanevg97's footwork racing around the #NASCARChicago street course. Van Gisbergen is a three-time @supercars champion. 🏆 — NASCAR on NBC (@NASCARonNBC) July 1, 2023 Since then, NASCAR drivers have considered trying the heel-toe technique after van Gisbergen showed its effectiveness, but none have implemented it due to what is believed to be a steep learning curve. 'Everybody is just like, 'Well, just learn what he does. Do what he does,'' 2023 NASCAR champion Ryan Blaney said last month on the 'Door Bumper Clear' podcast. 'I'm like, 'It would take me 10 years to get halfway to what Shane can do with right-foot (braking). I might be done racing by the time I figure that out halfway of how good he is.' Still, it's unlikely heel-toe accounts for all of van Gisbergen's road-racing speed, and it's a bit of a cop-out to suggest that's the reason he's so good. In reality, van Gisbergen happens to just be an exceptionally adaptable driver, as evidenced by his ability to switch sides of the car and shift with different hands. After all, Supercars drivers sit on the right side of the car and shift with their left hand, the opposite of NASCAR cars. All of that said, van Gisbergen poses no threat for the NASCAR championship — nor will he be winning a race on an oval anytime soon. His average finish is outside the top 25 on every type of NASCAR oval (superspeedway, intermediate and short track). And before winning on the Mexico City road course last month, van Gisbergen's rookie season was off to a rough start; he was 33rd in the point standings in a series with 36 full-time drivers. That underscores how difficult it is, even for someone of the 36-year-old van Gisbergen's talent level, to compete with NASCAR's best on the type of tracks most have driven since childhood. Aside from some dirt oval races, van Gisbergen had no pavement oval experience until Aug. 2023. Advertisement So why would his team, Trackhouse Racing, hire a full-time driver who currently can only win on one type of circuit? Because of NASCAR's playoff structure. NASCAR has a 'win and in' championship system, where any driver with a victory in the first 26 races (the 'regular season') will qualify for the 16-driver field to compete for the Cup Series title. So even though van Gisbergen was 33rd before Mexico, he immediately leaped half of the drivers in the standings to lock himself into the playoffs. And while van Gisbergen won't win the title (there are nine ovals in the 10-race playoffs), NASCAR's franchise-like 'charter' payouts are determined by their average finish in the standings over a three-year period. So by qualifying into the playoffs, van Gisbergen essentially paid for Trackhouse's investment in him — and he appears poised to be an annual playoff participant as long as the system remains the same. At the same time, his road-course success is buying patience with Trackhouse for his oval development. Indeed, van Gisbergen has shown progress while getting three top-20 finishes in his last five oval starts after starting the season with only one top-20 in his first 10 ovals. 'We wouldn't be doing this if we thought we could go win road courses and know we're not going to run that good on the ovals because he's never done it before,' Trackhouse owner Justin Marks said. 'At this level of the game, you have to be a complete package. For his level of intelligence and how he studies and adapts and learns, there's a real opportunity here for him to figure the ovals out and be a complete Cup driver. 'We've got somebody who is talented that we can make a Cup driver out of. And while he learns in the meantime, we can win a ton of road courses and punch that ticket to the playoffs and give our sponsors a ton of return for their investment.' (Top photo of Shane van Gisbergen taking the checkered flag Sunday at the Chicago Street Race: James Gilbert / Getty Images)
