Falls mar Tour de France stage finale as Philipsen wins again

Soudal Quick-Step's Dutch rider Fabio Jakobsen (R) and Lotto Dstny's Italian rider Jacopo Guarnieri recover after crashing in the final sprint near the finish line of the 4th stage of the 110t Tour de France cycling race on Tuesday. (AFP)
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Updated 05 July 2023
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Falls mar Tour de France stage finale as Philipsen wins again

  • In the shockingly accident-filled finish, the peloton sped around a motorbike racetrack where there was a string of crashes on the rounded chicanes
  • British veteran Mark Cavendish came fifth as he continued to face frustration in his quest for a 35th Tour de France win

NOGARO, FRANCE: Jasper Philipsen won a second consecutive stage of the Tour de France on Tuesday as a series of high-speed falls at the Nogaro motorbike racetrack stole the headlines.

The Alpecin rider Philipsen finished at a speed over 67kph and took the overall lead in the sprint points battle after pipping Caleb Ewan and Phil Bauhaus.

Belgian Philipsen expressed shock at the falls.

“I’ve never experienced a finish like that before, those curves are tight and I’m so happy not to have fallen,” said the 25-year-old.

His teammate and lead-out man Mathieu van der Poel also spoke out about the choice of placing the finale on a racetrack.

“A circuit is not safer than a road. I’m just happy I managed to stay upright and managed to find a gap for Jasper,” he said.

Philipsen agreed.

“Maybe because it was so boring and slow today the riders were more nervous. The corners were also much more technical than I had expected.

“Sadly, it’s a dangerous sport and it’s not always possible to maintain safety.”

Fabio Jakobsen was alongside Philipsen when he hit the tarmac.

“It’s not my aim to make anyone fall,” Philipsen said. “My take is that he tried to get into a space that was too small.”

British veteran Mark Cavendish came fifth as he continued to face frustration in his quest for a 35th Tour de France win to break the all-time record he shares with Eddy Merckx.

The 38-year-old, who finished sixth in Monday’s sprint, said he picked the wrong wheel to follow.

In the shockingly accident-filled finish, the peloton sped around a motorbike racetrack where there was a string of crashes on the rounded chicanes.

Tour medics have confirmed two riders broke collarbones.

Philipsen attracted ridicule at the Tour last year for celebrating what he believed to be a stage win when in fact Wout Van Aert had already crossed the line on a solo escape.

A Netflix series about the 2022 Tour then nicknamed him ‘Jasper the disaster’.

But this is his fourth consecutive triumph on a Tour de France stage that culminated with a mass bunch sprint.

He is the first rider since Cavendish in 2008 to win successive sprint stages in the race.

Adam Yates retained the overall leader’s yellow jersey. He is six seconds ahead of his teammate Tadej Pogacar and seven ahead of his brother Simon Yates.

“Today went well, nobody wanted to break away and the sprinters were delighted,” Yates said of the slow pace set by the peloton on a flat stage.

Looking ahead to the Tour’s first big mountain stage on Wednesday, with around 30km of climbing at an average gradient of over 7 percent, Yates predicted more action.

“It’s a big opportunity for the breakaway, there will be some serious competition to get in there and get away. It’ll be interesting.”

The man who wore the polka dot climb jersey on the July 4 holiday was American Neilson Powless, and he will likely bid to keep it Wednesday.

First up on Wednesday is the beyond category 15km-ascent of the Col de Soudet at 7.2 percent average gradient. The next hill is the Col d’Ichere with 4km at 7 percent before an 8km slog up the Col de Marie Blanc at 8.6 percent gradient.


UAE’s ‘giant-killing’ of Bangladesh not as unlikely as some might think

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UAE’s ‘giant-killing’ of Bangladesh not as unlikely as some might think

  • At first sight, the UAE men’s team beating Bangladesh in a 3-match T20 series appears to be an upset. On closer examination, this would be a disservice to the UAE in this format

“Giant-killing” in sport is often associated with cup competitions in soccer, when a team from a lower division beats one placed in a higher division.

A recent example was when Plymouth Argyle, near the foot of the Championship — effectively, the second tier of English football — beat the leaders of the Premier League, Liverpool, in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Feb. 9, 2025. There have been many other legendary examples of giant-killing in soccer. Use of the term to describe similar feats in other sports does not appear to be commonplace.

Perhaps it reflects the different structure of other sports. At its apex, cricket is not structured by divisions. Only 12 teams play Test cricket against each other. In one-day international cricket (ODIs) and T20 international cricket, the International Cricket Council rates teams according to performance. The Test-playing teams occupy the highest-rated positions in the shorter formats by virtue of their greater strength. Outside of World Cup tournaments they rarely play teams rated in the 20 places below them. Therefore, the opportunities for giant-killing would appear to be restricted.

This is not to say that upsets and surprises do not happen. They are part of the natural rhythm of sport. Identifying when they may happen is a challenging task. In Liverpool’s case, the manager selected a team consisting of a number of players who were not normally first choice for league matches. Last week I referred to Zimbabwe’s defeat of Australia in the group stage of the 1983 World Cup at Nottingham. Two members of the Zimbabwean team met several of the Australian team the evening before the match at the hotel where both teams were staying.

The Zimbabweans were surprised to learn of the level of disharmony within the Australian camp and the openness with which it was revealed. This revelation gave them hope and confidence, but it was not until the closing stages of the match that they realised a shock win was possible against an aging Australian team. The part-time players of Zimbabwe triumphed by 13 runs. Afterwards, the Australian captain admitted that “We knew nothing about them at all. There was no video analysis. We said, ‘We’ll find out what they’re like when we get out there on the park’.”

A vastly different environment exists today in which technical analysis of players’ performances in different circumstances are forensically assessed, with plans drawn up to promote, expose and counter them. It is not clear if these have led to upsets of smaller nations beating more powerful ones. At first sight, the UAE men’s team beating Bangladesh in a three-match T20 series between May 17 and 21 might appear to be an upset. On closer examination, this would be a disservice to the UAE in this format.

Prior to the series, Bangladesh were rated ninth in the ICC T20 rankings, compared with 15th for the UAE. The ratings are the result of dividing the total number of points earned by the number of games played. Bangladesh had a rating of 225 prior to the series compared with 181 for the UAE. Although there were only six places separating Bangladesh and the UAE, the reality is that, given the points system of two points for a win and minus two points for a loss, it would take a significant time for the UAE and teams with similar ratings to bridge the gap.

This puts the UAE’s series win into greater perspective. Bangladesh won the first match by 27 runs, the UAE losing its last seven wickets for 33 runs. In the second match, Bangladesh posted 205 for 5 wickets which the UAE chased down with only one delivery remaining for the loss of eight wickets. Muhammad Waseem top scored with 82. The crucial difference in that match was that the UAE’s lower order did not collapse. In the third match, the UAE chased down 163 for the loss of only three wickets, with five deliveries remaining. Alishan Sharafu scored an undefeated 68, assisted by 41 not out from Asif Khan. Earlier, Haider Ali had claimed three wickets for only seven runs.

After the series, Litton Das, Bangladesh’s captain, noted that his team bowled and fielded in the second half of all three matches, the UAE having won the toss and elected to field. He said that dew was a factor in making the ball more difficult to grip and field cleanly, adding that his team’s batting, including his own, had not been consistent enough. This pattern continued in Bangladesh’s next series against Pakistan, which the latter won 3-0. As a result, Bangladesh have dropped one rating place to 10th.

Although the UAE’s rating remained unchanged, the UAE team and their management were understandably delighted with the outcome. Emirates Cricket Board Chairman Nahayan Mabarak Al-Nahayan congratulated the team on their historic series win, saying that “the team had played brilliantly in the whole series, while the support staff put in the hard yards to make the victory possible, another glorious chapter in our cricketing history.” He added that the board will “continue to provide the best possible facilities and exposure to our immensely talented players.”

The UAE have previously beaten Test-playing countries Ireland, New Zealand and Afghanistan, the last two in 2023. Victory over Bangladesh should, as the chairman remarked, “give immense confidence and self-belief to our players and make them take on bigger and more established opponents.” It is in this context that giant-killing acts in cricket may be judged — the defeat of a Test-playing, ICC full member being defeated by an associate nation.

It was certainly a shock when the Netherlands beat South Africa in the group stages of the 2023 World Cup at Dharamsala by 38 runs. In the same competition, Afghanistan beat England by 69 runs. A year later, the US, as joint host nation of the 2024 T20 World Cup, beat Pakistan in a super over, bowled because the match scores were tied. One of the greatest upsets was achieved by Ireland in the 2011 ODI World Cup in Bengaluru. England scored 327 and, in reply, Ireland slumped to 111 for five. Kevin O’Brien then hammered 100 off 50 deliveries to propel Ireland to a sensational three-wicket victory.

Finding a common denominator to explain or forecast upsets remains elusive. In three of the above examples, the defeated full members either looked out of sorts on the day or had broader issues, which affected their performances.

In the case of Ireland, O’Brien produced an innings of brilliance, which occasionally and unexpectedly occurs. In more normal patterns it is possible that, as associate nations improve over time with appropriate developmental support from their national boards, the propensity for giant-killing may increase. This is a possibility for the UAE in T20 cricket rather than ODIs, in which their recent performances have put the team in jeopardy of losing its ODI status.


Ronaldo fires Portugal into Nations League final

Updated 05 June 2025
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Ronaldo fires Portugal into Nations League final

  • It was Portugal’s first win over Germany since 2000
  • Spain and France will clash in the other semifinal on Thursday to decide who will face Portugal in the decider on Sunday

MUNICH: Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner as Portugal fought back to beat Germany 2-1 on Wednesday, with the 40-year-old bagging his 137th international goal to send them into the Nations League final.

It was Portugal’s first win over Germany since 2000 with Ronaldo’s goal earning them a spot in their second Nations League final, after winning the inaugural edition in 2019.

Spain and France will clash in the other semifinal on Thursday to decide who will face Portugal in the decider on Sunday.

Germany dominated the first half, but it remained goalless thanks to the heroics of Portugal keeper Diogo Costa.

The shotstopper made an excellent start to the first half, keeping out a low shot from Germany’s Leon Goretzka after four minutes with a strong save.

Costa came to Portugal’s rescue again with an incredible save from Nick Woltemade’s close-range effort and two minutes later, he produced another quick reaction stop, diving low to tip away another attempt from Goretzka.

Germany took the lead in the 48th minute, as Florian Wirtz headed in unmarked in the box, following a pinpoint lobbed pass from Joshua Kimmich.

However, Portugal turned the match around, first equalizing through substitute Francisco Conceicao in the 63rd minute, before Ronaldo tapped in five minutes later after Nuno Mendes teed him up.

For Conceicao, the win carried extra significance, as his father Sergio scored a hat-trick the last time Portugal beat Germany — at the European Championship in 2000.

“We need to enjoy the victory — we won for the first time in a while against Germany. Tactically we were exceptional and our commitment helped... it was a team victory,” Portugal coach Roberto Martinez said.

“Now we can recover and evaluate,” he added. “We want another performance with personality in this shirt.”

Germany looked to shift the momentum when substitute Karim Adeyemi unleashed a powerful rising strike with his left foot, only to see it crash against the outside of Costa’s right-hand post.

Portugal could have grabbed a third goal very late in the match but Germany keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen stretched impressively to perform a double save.

It was a disappointing 100th appearance for Germany captain Kimmich.

“The defeat is absolutely deserved. We weren’t playing well enough in the first half. After going 1-0 up, nothing came of it in the second half,” he told reporters.

“We have to learn from this. If we’re not at 100 percent, we can’t beat a top European team. Today was one of our worst games, purely based on our performance.”


Brazil need to get the best out of Vinicius Jr., says Ancelotti

Updated 05 June 2025
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Brazil need to get the best out of Vinicius Jr., says Ancelotti

  • Ancelotti: I don’t know if he’s been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid
  • Vinicius made his World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022 and has been a regular during their qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador: Brazil must help striker Vinicius Jr. rediscover the form he has displayed at Real Madrid, new national team coach Carlo Ancelotti said on Wednesday.

Ancelotti, who guided the Spanish giants to several titles alongside the Brazilian forward, including two Champions League triumphs and two LaLiga crowns, said that his unique ability to unsettle opposing defenses made him a vital asset.

“I don’t know if he’s been at his best here, but he has time to do what he does at Real Madrid,” Ancelotti told reporters ahead of Brazil’s World Cup qualifying match against Ecuador on Thursday — his first match in charge of the national team.

“For us, he’s a fundamental player. We have to work to ensure he performs at his best here,” the manager added.

Vinicius made his World Cup debut in Qatar in 2022 and has been a regular during their qualifying campaign for the 2026 tournament. However, he has struggled for form with the national team, falling short of his usual standards at Real Madrid.

Regarding his tactical approach, Ancelotti stated that he aims to field a compact, balanced team.

“I don’t want a team with a clear identity. We have to defend well, whether it’s 4-3-3 or 4-4-2. We have to defend together and use creativity with the ball,” he said.

“Individual quality is not enough today; you have to combine it with attitude, drive and commitment.”

He didn’t reveal his starting lineup for his debut as coach, but he did have words of praise for 18-year-old Estevao, who is leaving Palmeiras for Chelsea and has been tipped for a bright future with the national team.

“He’s got a special talent... he’s got character, he’s a good person, he’s humble, and he seems fine to me, but with a young player we have to be patient and careful. He has the characteristics to be very important for the future of the national team,” the coach said.

Brazil are fourth in the standings for the South American World Cup qualifiers, while their opponents Ecuador are second, behind world champions Argentina. The top six qualify directly for the World Cup.

They will host Paraguay in Sao Paulo next week and could secure an early spot at next year’s World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada.


Thunders vs. Pacers 2025 NBA Finals highlight NBA’s competitive parity

Updated 05 June 2025
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Thunders vs. Pacers 2025 NBA Finals highlight NBA’s competitive parity

  • NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum says the series between Oklahoma and Indiana shows success no longer dictated by market size and reflects the league’s evolving landscape

DUBAI: As the 2025 NBA Finals tip off in Oklahoma City this week, the league is celebrating this year’s matchup between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Indiana Pacers as a landmark moment. These are finals defined by competitive parity, the rise of international stars, and a clear message: In today’s NBA, success is no longer dictated by market size.

During a pre-finals international media call, NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum said the Thunder-Pacers series reflects the league’s evolving landscape.

“This season, we will crown the seventh different NBA champion in seven years, a first in league history. This speaks to the parity in today’s NBA, where more teams have a chance to win and more players are stepping up on the global stage,” Tatum said.

A new era of champions

Neither Oklahoma City nor Indiana has ever won an NBA title, with the Pacers’ only championships coming in the ABA. But both teams have reached the top through smart drafting, player development, and long-term vision, not through market size or heavy spending.

“It’s still early, but I’m encouraged by what we’re seeing in terms of parity,” Tatum said. “Teams like OKC and Indiana prove that strong management, regardless of market size, can build championship contenders. The result is increased global interest and competitive balance.”

The Thunder finished with a league-best 68 wins behind Canadian-born MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The Pacers, led by Pascal Siakam and Tyrese Haliburton, advanced through the East with dynamic offense and relentless energy. Both squads are young, deep, and built with a clear identity.

Small markets, global reach

While Oklahoma City and Indiana are traditionally considered small markets, their impact in 2025 tells a different story. Through global broadcasting and social media, the finals and their stars are more accessible than ever.

“Market size doesn’t have the same weight it once did. Thanks to social media, international distribution, and player-driven content, stars from any team can become global icons,” the NBA deputy commissioner added.

This postseason supports that claim. The NBA recorded its most-viewed opening playoff weekend in 25 years, and the Eastern Conference Finals between Indiana and New York had the highest viewership in seven years. Across digital platforms, engagement is at an all-time high.

“The Thunder and Pacers have proven that you don’t need to be from New York or Los Angeles to capture global attention. If your team plays the right way and your players connect with fans, the world will watch,” Tatum continued.

Global stars, global stage

The finals spotlight two international standouts: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander from Canada and Pascal Siakam from Cameroon. Gilgeous-Alexander, who was named both the 2025 NBA regular season MVP and Western Conference Finals MVP, and Siakam, the Eastern Conference Finals MVP, have emerged as global stars on the league’s biggest stage. Both are products of the NBA’s global development programs, including Basketball Without Borders. Siakam participated in the Basketball Without Borders Africa camp in 2012, which played a significant role in his basketball development. Gilgeous-Alexander attended the Basketball Without Borders Global camp in 2016, showcasing his talent on an international stage.

“This is truly a breakout moment for Shai,” Tatum said. “And Pascal’s story, from attending a camp in Africa to becoming an NBA champion and now returning to the finals, is a powerful example of what international investment can achieve.”

Built, not bought

This year’s finals also highlight the impact of the league’s updated Collective Bargaining Agreement. Neither team is a luxury-tax payer, and both rosters were built through the draft, player development, and smart acquisitions.

Tatum highlighted that there are multiple paths to building a championship contender, adding that what we are seeing now is a validation of the system. Drafting Chet Holmgren, trading for Alex Caruso, and signing Isaiah Hartenstein are all smart, sustainable moves.

Finals for the future

With Gilgeous-Alexander, Haliburton, Siakam, and Holmgren at the forefront, the 2025 NBA finals represent more than a battle for the title. It marks a generational shift in the league.

“These players aren’t anointed. They earn their place. And this is where they begin to cement their status as the future faces of the NBA,” Tatum concluded.

As two passionate fan bases chase their first NBA title and a global audience tunes in, the Thunder-Pacers Finals stand as a symbol of the league’s evolution, driven by competitive parity and the rise of international stars who are boosting viewership around the world.

Given that Oklahoma City holds home court advantage, Game 1 of the NBA Finals tips off on Thursday, June 5 at 8:30 p.m. ET (Friday, June 6 at 4:30 a.m. GST), live from Oklahoma City.


Novak Djokovic beats Alexander Zverev to set up a semifinal showdown with Jannik Sinner

Updated 05 June 2025
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Novak Djokovic beats Alexander Zverev to set up a semifinal showdown with Jannik Sinner

  • Djokovic proved too much for No. 3 seed Zverev, a man who’s a decade younger and was last year’s runner-up at Roland-Garros, and set up a semifinal against No. 1 Jannik Sinner

PARIS: A crucial moment arrived more than 2 1/2 hours into Novak Djokovic’s 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 French Open quarterfinal victory over Alexander Zverev. It was the fourth set, and Djokovic led, but Zverev was in possession of a break point and a chance to get back into Wednesday’s match.
They engaged in a 41-stroke exchange, the longest of a buggy and breezy night, and Djokovic came out on top, smacking a forehand winner. He stayed in place afterward, breathing heavily, with hands on hips, scanning the standing ovation from thousands of Court Philippe-Chatrier spectators.
Djokovic might be 38 now. He might have slogged through a pair of three-match losing skids this season and slid to No. 6 in the rankings. What hasn’t changed is Djokovic’s determination or his ability to be his best on big stages — and now he’s two wins from a record 25th Grand Slam title.
Djokovic proved too much for No. 3 seed Zverev, a man who’s a decade younger and was last year’s runner-up at Roland-Garros, and set up a semifinal against No. 1 Jannik Sinner.
Earlier Wednesday, Sinner continued his overpowering run through the bracket by dismissing Alexander Bublik 6-1, 7-5, 6-0. Sinner not only hasn’t dropped a set so far, but he has ceded a total of only 36 games through five matches.
So Friday will bring a tantalizing showdown between someone many consider the top player in tennis history, Djokovic, and someone who is at the top of the men’s game at the moment, Sinner. Djokovic and Sinner are tied 4-4 in their head-to-head series, but Sinner has won the last three matchups.
No one has spent more weeks at No. 1 in the rankings than Djokovic. No one has won more major championships or reached more major semifinals than his total that now stands at 51 after becoming the second-oldest man to get that far in Paris.
Sinner, 23, has won three of the past five Grand Slam titles. That includes last year’s US Open and this year’s Australian Open, so his unbeaten streak at majors is now at 19 matches. He’s also won his last 26 sets at those events.
“He’s playing fast. He’s playing smart,” Bublik said. “He’s in another dimension with all the aspects of the game.”
Also an apt description for Djokovic, who repeatedly used drop shots to great effect against Zverev.
As for Sinner, no one other than Carlos Alcaraz has been able to beat him in his last 48 matches, a stretch that dates to last August. Sinner is 46-2 in that span, with both defeats coming against the French Open’s defending champion.
And as it happens, No. 2 Alcaraz is still around. He will meet No. 8 Lorenzo Musetti in Friday’s other semifinal.
There were some distractions in Djokovic vs. Zverev, including a bunch of tiny flying insects that the players kept trying to swat away and a back-and-forth between the chair umpire and some fans in the fourth set.
Needless to say, Djokovic handled it all much better. He also was superior in pretty much every way with the ball in play.
He was broken in the very first game — and then not again.
He broke Zverev four times — no small feat against a guy who had been broken a total of five times in his five previous matches.
And Djokovic’s 29 unforced errors were far fewer than the 44 for Zverev.
It took Djokovic five match points to wrap this one up, and when he did, his face morphed from concentration to as wide a smile as can be.
The last time these two played each other was in the Australian Open semifinals in January, and Djokovic had to quit after one set because of an injured hamstring. The last time Djokovic played at the French Open, 12 months ago, he had to withdraw before the quarterfinals because he tore the meniscus in his right knee and needed surgery.
He sure looks in good shape at the moment.