Czech Zdenek Stybar defeated world road race champion Philippe Gilbert by centimeters on stage seven of the Vuelta a Espana on Friday to seize his first victory in a Grand Tour.
The pair broke away in a twisting finishing circuit on Mairena del Aljarafe’s narrow streets before Stybar outduelled his Belgian rival. German Robert Wagner was third in the 205.9km leg from Almendralejo.
Following the last relatively flat stage before three days of mountain climbing, Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali continues to lead overall with a 3 second advantage over the US’ Chris Horner.
Photo: AFP
Irishman Nicolas Roche is eight seconds off the pace in third.
Stybar, a former double world cyclo-cross champion, said beating Gilbert had been “really difficult.”
“I didn’t launch a perfect sprint, but I still won. Whether you win by one centimeter or one millimeter, that’s the most important thing,” the Omega Pharma-Quick Step rider told reporters.
Stybar said teammate and world time trial champion Tony Martin of Germany, who lost Thursday’s stage in the last seconds following a 175km solo breakaway, had inspired him.
“Sitting round the dinner table last night, we all felt sad he hadn’t won, but motivated too,” the Czech said.
Stybar was adamant that his fourth victory of this year and first Grand Tour stage win could not make up for the agony he felt after the Paris-Roubaix classic this year, when a collision with a spectator 15km from the finish wrecked his chances of a top-three result.
“Paris-Roubaix is in April next year and that’s where I’ll get my revenge,” he said.
Stybar was among several riders who criticized Friday’s finish for being too risky.
“With so many sharp turns and cobblestones, and 200 riders all going at full speed, it was dangerous,” he explained.
One top contender, Ireland’s Dan Martin, crashed in the last 10km when he hit a hole in the road. He was taken to hospital for a checkup on injuries after completing the course in 116th place.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
James Harden on Friday scored 31 points and came up big in overtime to help the Los Angeles Clippers erase a double-digit deficit on the way to a 121-117 NBA victory over the Toronto Raptors. Harden scored 16 points in the fourth quarter and overtime as the Clippers pushed their wining steak to five games despite the absence of star Kawhi Leonard with a sprained right ankle. The Clippers trailed by 11 entering the fourth quarter, but Harden drilled a pair of free-throws with 1:24 left in regulation to tie it and after misses from both teams, they went to
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
Yassine Bounou on Wednesday saved two penalties, while Youssef en-Nesyri netted the decisive spot-kick as hosts Morocco secured a 4-2 shoot-out victory over Nigeria following a 0-0 draw in a tense Africa Cup of Nations semi-final in Rabat. Morocco, seeking their first continental title in 50 years, are to face 2021 winners Senegal in Sunday’s decider in Rabat, while Nigeria take on Egypt in the third-place playoff tomorrow. The 120 minutes before the shoot-out had few clear-cut chances for either side, but it was Morocco who created more opportunities, although they were denied by some fine saves from Nigeria goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali. Nigeria
RSS