South African Daryl Impey on Sunday won stage nine of the Tour de France, leaving local fans to settle for Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe keeping hold of the maillot jaune on Bastille Day.
Impey, wearing his national champion jersey, was part of a mass breakaway that quickly opened a 10-minute gap and extended it throughout the race with the peloton eventually trailing in 16 minutes after Impey had beaten Belgian Tiesj Benoot to the line.
Defending champion Geraint Thomas and the other overall title contenders finished together in a low-key finale to the 170km rolling run.
Photo: AFP
“That was a really tough race. I’m so happy to win on July 14,” said a broadly smiling Impey, who crossed the line with both arms aloft, releasing a huge victory cry.
The 2019 Tour Down Under champion and all-rounder won a Tour de France team time trial in 2013 and a few days later took the overall lead to become his nation’s first maillot jaune holder.
“This is my greatest ever victory, just as good as wearing the yellow jersey, nothing can top this,” he said. “It was a tough, solid day.”
Impey is a teammate of the British Yates twins, with Adam angling for the overall title this year.
“There’s no way I was getting involved in a breakaway today, but I expected a select bunch sprint,” team leader Adam Yates said.
After a frantic day over seven mountains on Saturday, the stage embarked from Saint-Etienne’s soccer stadium in a festive Bastille Day atmosphere, with many fans shouting for local man Romain Bardet as well as Alaphilippe.
Bardet and Australian contender Richie Porte tried a cheeky breakaway on the approach to the town of Brioude, but after brief deliberation Team Ineos and FDJ upped the tempo and reeled them in.
“Obviously, we had to be aware of [Bardet’s attack],” Thomas said after the race. “He’s quite far down on GC [general classification: 3 minutes, 20 seconds], but Bennett and Richie Porte were there. All three of them you don’t want to give them any time back if you don’t have to.”
Alaphilippe was also relieved.
“This is a day I’ll never forget,” he said.
“All those people shouting my name, it really is something, and my grandfather was there at the finish line, so it was really special,” the former soldier added. “The toughest is still to come, even if it’s been hard so far. I’m not dreaming of a Tour win, I’m dreaming of keeping the yellow jersey as long as I can. I think I can limit the damage on the [stage 13] time trial. Not win, but hold my own.”
“But if it turns into a mass brawl between the big guys on the Tourmalet I think I might really suffer,” he said of the fearsome Pyreneean mountain scheduled for stage 14.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
The sacred flame for the Paris Olympics was lit yesterday in Olympia, Greece, the birthplace of the ancient Games, in a ceremony inspired by antiquity and marked by messages of hope amid multiple global crises. “In ancient times, the Olympic Games brought together the Greek city states, even — and in particular — during times of war and conflict,” International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach said. “Today, the Olympic Games are the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. Then as now, the Olympic athletes are sending this powerful message — yes, it is possible to compete fiercely