Australia’s Cameron Meyer won Sunday’s second stage of the Tour de Suisse, while time-trial specialist Tony Martin of Germany retained the leader’s yellow jersey.
Orica-GreenEdge rider Meyer won a sprint finish ahead of Sky Pro Cycling’s Philip Deignan and BMC Racing’s Larry Warbasse as the race headed into the mountains for the first time during the 181.8km ride, which featured two beyond category climbs, from Bellinzona to Sarnen, Switzerland.
“This is a significant win for me,” said Meyer, who admitted he was keen to make amends following a disappointing Giro d’Italia where he was forced to retire after just seven stages. “I really wanted to bounce back and come back strong in the second part of the season. This is a great way to start that.”
Photo: EPA
Triple time-trial world champion Martin, who won Saturday’s individual time trial, kept hold of the yellow jersey as he crossed the line with the peloton 14 seconds behind to maintain a six second advantage over Dutchman Tom Dumoulin of Giant-Shimano.
Prior to Sunday’s start, Italy’s Domenico Pozzovivo of AG2R-La Mondiale, who was fifth after the opening stage, was forced to withdraw from the tour with digestive problems and a heavy fever.
Meyer, Deignan and Warbasse were part of an early six-man breakaway and they tackled the ascents of both the Gotthardpass (2,093m) and the Furkapass (2,416m) in cold and wet conditions, before Warbasse launched an attack on the day’s final obstacle, the category two Brunigpass, 30km from the finish.
The American was tracked all the way by Deignan and while Meyer initially fell behind, he soon scrambled his way back to the leading pair on the descent.
With the finish in sight Warbasse went on the offensive, embarking on a final dash to the line, but he could not match the kick of Meyer, who went on to claim his first win of the season.
“The other two thought I was tired because I had been dropped on the climb and I was happy to let them think that. They looked at each other more than at me, which was perfect,” said Meyer, having seemingly lulled his rivals into a false sense of security. “They sprinted early. I waited. I opened my sprint at 150m to go and passed them both before the line.”
Yesterday’s third stage was a 206km ride from Sarnen to Heiden, Switzerland, that included three category two climbs.
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
‘SOURCE OF PRIDE’: Newspapers rushed out special editions and the government sent their congratulations as Shohei Ohtani became the first player to enter the 50-50 club Japan reacted with incredulity and pride yesterday after Shohei Ohtani became the first player in Major League Baseball to record 50 home runs and 50 stolen bases in a single season. The Los Angeles Dodgers star from Japan made history with a seventh-inning homer in a 20-4 victory over the Marlins in Miami. “We would like to congratulate him from the bottom of our heart,” top government spokesman Yoshimasa Hayashi told reporters in Tokyo. “We sincerely hope Mr Ohtani, who has already accomplished feat after feat and carved out a new era, will thrive further,” he added. The landmark achievement dominated Japanese morning news
Roger Federer on Wednesday said that staying involved with tennis in retirement helped him avoid feeling “like an alien” ahead of this week’s Laver Cup in Berlin. Federer, who helped create the tournament, retired at the Laver Cup in London two years ago and has since stayed involved with the competition as an ambassador. “I’m happy I went back right away to some tournaments,” the 43-year-old told reporters. “I feel I ripped the Band-Aid off quite quickly and when I walk around the tennis sites I still feel I belong there,” he said. “I don’t feel like an alien, which is a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or